November is Now Movember

Posted on by Paul Turek, MD

Are you a Mo Bro? A Mo Sista? Do you Mo alone or with buddies? What’s your shave date? Say what? Ah, so you’re not the hipster you thought you were…
The lingo is Movember. Movember is a movement. The movement is simple and involves growing a moustache in November. Not a beard, not a goatee. The hope is that, along with real moustaches, real conversations begin about men’s health.
As an Official Spokesperson for Movember this year, I am all about addressing the great need to raise awareness about the stark reality of men’s health:

  • Men’s live are almost 5 years shorter (76 vs. 82) than women’s in the US
  • 1 of 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes
  • 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer
  • 35% of men over 18 years of age are obese and 12% are in fair or poor health
  • Men are 24% less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year
  • Almost 80% of suicides in the US are men

You can blame these dismal statistics on men for their lack of understanding and their reluctance to take action. You can fault them for not expressing how they feel or for engaging in risky activities. But condemnation has not and will not improve their lives. Remember, men are people too and by building awareness and creating paths, these seemingly simple but intelligent creatures can adapt and learn to take better care of themselves.
The Movember Foundation is a young but global organization committed to changing the face of men’s health. It started by challenging men to grow moustaches during Movember (formerly November) to spark conversation and raise money for men’s health. To date, more than 4 million Mo Bros and Sista’s have raised over $550 million, and funded 800 programs in 21 countries. This work has improved the lives of men with cancer and other diseases the world over.
As examples, Movember Foundation funds have supported True NTH, the Global Action Plan (GAP), the Prostate Cancer Foundation, and the LIVESTRONG Foundation. In addition, a national strategic initiative is currently being planned for mental health support. Let’s help him take care of himself.
So sign up at Movember.com. Scratch that. Sign up right now! And give a coupla’ bucks. It’s even easier for women, as they are not required to grow moustaches.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Turek