Movember

Advanced prostate cancer often gets lost in the news cycles.

Is prostate cancer a “good cancer?” NO! But there are “good prostate cancers” and “bad prostate cancers.” Thankfully, there are far more “good prostate cancers” than bad ones, but that whole mis-interpretation casts an overlooked shadow upon the more infrequently occurring cases of “bad prostate cancer”…the advanced PC cases.

And what about all this news about “prostate cancer overtreatment?” If you only read the headlines, then you may not know that this, too, ONLY applies the more frequently occurring “good prostate cancer” cases. In fact, the “bad prostate cancer” cases often seem to be undertreated!

The epidemic of overtreatment of favorable-risk cases (the “good prostate cancer” cases) has given the disease as a whole a “bad name.”

But November is the month designated for those who want to show support for advanced prostate cancer cases to step out of the shadows. November is re-labeled as Movember for men to start the month clear of all facial hair, then don’t shave again until December, to show support for men’s health causes.

Movember is only 2-weeks away. Time to start communicating to your close loved ones that you, too, are going to be shaving off the beard or goatee and starting fresh on Movember 1st, or (like me) going to abandon the fresh look on Movember 1st, and start No-Shave November off with stubble and let it grow all month long before shaving it off again…all to show support for advanced prostate cancer.

The idea is this: people may ask you, "Why the change in your facial hair?" Bingo, then you have the opportunity to tell them you are supporting Movember and to educate them about prostate cancer. Awareness grows out of your participation.

2-weeks and counting…

Post Edited (JackH) : 10/17/2016 12:12:36 PM (GMT-6)

haha, Paxton, but that's ok. Remember, it's about the conversation. Work on the 'stache-only. My neck hair would be pretty spotty, too, as a former blonde.

Good on you, brother.

It's good to see and hear a little positive enthusiasm around here.

Remember, it's not about how it looks--you can take it off Dec 1st--it's all about the conversation!

Super cool, Dan (Wings)!!!

It doesn't matter what it looks like...right?! Take it off later if you want (I know I will). It's gonna look goofy for a while...on me.

Conversation. I've participated in Movember before. You will have some great opportunities for conversation about prostate cancer, and you can help educate friends, family, co-workers and others around you about the myths and realities of PC.

Cool!

Paxton, your initial hesitation is understandable. I have the advantage, now, of years of hindsight, which have made me wiser and given me perspective...and therefore much confidence in communicating with others. Do what you can do, and what you are comfortable with doing, in your conversations.

You've got 2-weeks to practice-up on what key points you will make in any brief conversations that come up (it's usually nothing more than an "elevator speech," if you are familiar with that expression)...2-weeks until Movember starts!

One of the things that I found from having participated in Movember in the past is that men come out of the woodwork and speak up to you. They'll see your 'stache growth in the month and the conversation will start something like this: "You growing that for Movember?" "Yeah" "I had prostate cancer, too." "Oh, I didn't know. Tell me about your case."

Jack, good post brother. I find it ironic that not shaving to show support for advanced guys excludes most advanced guys from participation. Elk hunting begins in 3 short weeks. I quit shaving mid September and what is growing on my face still looks like frost on a dog turd. Thanks to all of you who are growing what we advanced guys can't. In your discussions with the questioning masses you you might mention that the treatments for advanced disease turns us advanced disease guys into suito women. Sorry about the spelling if incorrect. It was a guess

Todd1963 said...
I quit shaving mid September and what is growing on my face still looks like frost on a dog turd.

Todd - That one almost cost me a new keyboard. These clicky-spring keyboards just don't like coffee very much, and I almost lost mine while reading.

Until I began TRT about 4 years ago, I was where you find yourself now. Ironic, isn't it, that they will even take that away from me in treatment of my PC. At least for now, I can still grow some lip fuzz. After I hold the T, maybe not.