“See my beard
ain’t it weird?
Don’t be skeered
It’s just a beard” – George Carlin
November is the month dedicated to men’s health issues, and let’s be real — men, we’ve got issues! Between prostate cancer, testicular cancer, emotional or psychological disorders, addiction, and poor fitness, it almost seems like we’re doomed. Notice I said “almost.” And “seems” — I also said it seems like we’re doomed.
A No-shave November success dreams of a cure.
photo by Jay Mantri
Well, life is fatal…
The last time I checked, the probability of death is 1, meaning that it is certain each of us will die. That doesn’t mean that life is meaningless. I argue just the opposite — each of us owes it to himself to make the most of his one-and-only life, no matter how long or short it may be.
Take care of yourself
We’ve talked about this before. It is not selfish to take care of your health. It is good stewardship to maintain your health so you can take care of the ones you love. This means, you are to, as Bob Buford puts it, “Build on the islands of health and strength.” You invest in health and strength in yourself, so you can invest your health and strength cultivating it in others.
In other posts, we’ve talked about the benefits of exercise, and about how to eat for optimal health. If I haven’t devoted an entire post to the importance of sleep, I should do that soon. In the meantime, please note that I said quality sleep is important.
Do I have to go to the doctor?
No, you get to go to the doctor. If your budget and insurance coverage allow for it, please allot time and dollars for an annual physical examination. We live in a remarkable age, when we have treatments and even cures for so many dread diseases — especially when your doctor can catch them early. A saying common among the old folks was, “A stitch in time saves nine.” Allow me to translate: addressing a problem early saves time and money — and where your health is concerned, it could save your life.
Those who do not remember the past…
In addition to developing a professional relationship with your doctor, take the time to learn your family’s medical history. Many risk factors for diseases are genetic. Knowing whether any of your relatives had cancer or heart disease can help you reduce your risk through lifestyle changes and more careful screening. This also applies to alcoholism, by the way.
Bonus fact: Infertility is hereditary. If your parents didn’t have kids, chances are you won’t either.
What’s with Movember and No-Shave November?
I’m so glad you read the question I planted! As I have been promoting both of these to my subscribers (and if you’re not one, you know you could become one for free), both Movember and No-Shave November are worldwide campaigns to raise awareness and funds for research into men’s health issues. If you want to participate, you grow a mustache (for Movember) or a full facial crop for No-Shave November and donate what you would otherwise spend on grooming products (razors, blades, shave cream, etc.) to the cause. By participating, you make a real virtue of something that happens naturally and you can actually save a life by NOT doing something.
How big a deal is this?
It’s a pretty big deal. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in men — the second leading cause of cancer death in men (lung cancer is first) — with nearly a quarter million new cases every year and approximately 25,000 deaths. Prostate cancer is much more common after age 65, and the CDC estimates that every man has a 1 in 7 chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Although most prostate cancers are slow-growing, the treatments can be debilitating. We need to continue research to improve detection and treatment options.
Testicular cancer affects younger men, with most cases occurring between the ages of 15 and 40. It is one of the most frightening cancers to contemplate, but it is actually one of the most easily treated and cured. Stage I diagnoses have a 99% survival rate. Your lifetime risk of getting testicular cancer is about 1 in 200. At the same time, it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men ages 15-to-35, so it pays to be vigilant.
As I mentioned above, early detection is the key. And one way you can help yourself is to learn how to perform a testicular self examination (TSE). You can (ahem) handle this in the shower once a month. It takes less than a minute.
Help a brother out
You mission, should you decide to accept it, is as follows:
- Sign up for No-shave November or Movember
- Grow a big ol’ beard or a stylin’ mustache (You may even decide to keep it year ’round.)
- Please donate — you can’t pay research scientists with awareness
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic. Bring your best manners, please.