Ditch the Razor to 'Shave Lives'

If you’ve noticed more men sporting beards than usual this month, it’s not just a trend. “It’s called ‘Movember’ or ‘No-Shave November’,” explains Brian Kirby, CVMC’s Director of Oncology/Nephrology and Infusion Services. “Men commit to growing out their facial hair during the month of November to raise awareness for a variety of men’s health issues, specifically prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health.”

Movember challenges men to grow and women to support a moustache or make a commitment to get active and MOVE for 30 days. Their vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health. No-shave November asks men and women to embracing their hair, which many cancer patients lose, by letting it grow wild and free. It also encourages participants to donate the money they would normally spend on shaving and grooming during the month of November to educate about cancer prevention, save lives and aid those fighting the battle.

Men, why is your health important? Here are the facts:

  • Gender is one of the strongest and most consistent predictors of health and life expectancy. On average, men die 6 years earlier than women.
  • Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer for men in the US. In 2015, an estimated 220,800 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
  • Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men aged 15-34 in the US with over 8,430 new cases expected this year. While there is a 95% cure rate, 1 in 20 will die from testicular cancer.
  • Poor mental health can be detrimental, when a person doesn’t seek the right help. Every day 87 men will commit suicide in the US, which is about 31,800 deaths each year, almost the capacity of a college football stadium
  • Physical inactivity is also fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. More than 1/3 of American men over 20 are obese.

“Promoting awareness and providing education about important health issues are a major part of CVMC’s overall mission as a community hospital,” says Brian, who’s leading the charge for “NoShavember” at CVMC. “Using mustaches and beards as a conversation starter, we are aiming to engage the community in conversation about health topics that men have traditionally been hesitant to discuss.”
noshavember logo 2How can you get involved?

  • Join our staff and start clean-shaven on November 1st.
  • Post a picture of yourself to our Facebook page or tag it at #CVMCNoShavember and continue to keep us posted on your growth progress throughout the month.
  • Encourage your friends and family to join you and prompt conversations about men’s health wherever you (and your scruff) go.
  • Follow CVMC on Facebook to stay up-to-date on our staff’s “NoShavember progress” along with facts about men’s health.

To learn more about the biggest issues affecting men’s health and ways you can help tackle them face-first visit Movember and No Shave November.

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