Men and women participate in no shave November in support for testicular cancer awareness month

Christian Read
Staff Writer 

Men everywhere plan to endure the thirty days of November without a shave, in celebration of the annual month of “Movember.” However, only some know that their monthly moustaches support men’s health.

The founder’s of the Movember foundation Luke Slattery, Travis Garone, Adam Garone and Justin Coghlan pondered why moustaches weren’t a trend anymore. They decided to see who could grow the better ‘stache and started off Nov. 1 with freshly shaven faces and by the end of the month decided who grew the best one.

After some time, they got so much feedback it was decided to make the moustache competition into a cause that came to be known as the Movember Foundation. This was decided in part because men don’t have many ways to engage in their health issues like women do thus attaching the growing of moustaches in support of men’s health.

On Nov. 1 men are encouraged to start off with a freshly shaven face. Throughout the rest of the month they resist shaving and grow a beard in support of prostate and testicular cancer.

According to cancer.org “about 1 man in 6 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.” Prostate cancer is also the leading cause of death for men in America.

By the time a man is between the ages of 45 and 50 it is suggested he get a prostate exam. Prostate exams only last a minute or so, and it may be uncomfortable but a third of the men over 65 have a high risk of having prostate cancer.

The risk for testicular cancer is about one in 270, but the death rate is low. Having testicular cancer is rare and the rate of increase for the disease is slowing down, especially since treatment is so successful.

A website in support of the no shave November ritual, called movember.com, provides backgrounds and statistics of past Movembers available to viewers. The website also provides a place to get involved or donate to the cause.

Celebrities get involved with no shave November as well such as Nick Offerman from the hit show Parks and Recreation. Offerman made a video with a comedic spin talking about Movember with “tips” on how to grow a full mustache. His tips consist of steps like “eat a raw onion,” or “tolerate a crying baby” which are the “manly” ways to grow a mustache.

Offerman supports movember.com informing participants they can register as a “Mo Bro” or Mo Sista” through the website. These Mo’s are dedicated to promoting support and joining the fight.

A common local rumor is that girls should show their support in Movember by not shaving their legs. This isn’t a part of the original program, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t an option: taking any action can help support men’s health.

The most important thing people can do is inform others what Movember is all about. When someone asks about not shaving, make sure and tell them all about no shave November, and show some support for men’s health in America.