OT: MGoBlog for prevention/cure of “Men’s Cancers”
Hi all,
I contacted Brian and received permission to post about a cause near and dear to my heart…cure and prevention of “men’s cancers – specifically prostate cancer.
October is breast cancer awareness month, and a lot of media attention is placed on this worthy cause. However, little fanfare is made regarding the month of November…where the focus is on prostate cancer awareness and cure.
I participate in Movember - not sure how much you all are aware of this, but basically it's a month-long fundraiser whereby I grow a moustache to raise funds and awareness for men's health. Specifically, I am working to find cures and prevention for "men's cancers". My goal is to (1) raise funds for research, and (2) raise awareness of this aggressive and deadly disease.
Now the emotional part...the reason I got into this is in regards to my dad. I posted a comment a while back regarding his health and got a lot of MGoBlog sympathy and support. This is why I am reaching out to you all for help.
More than ten years ago, my dad was diagnosed with colorectal and prostate cancer. This aggressive disease required a partial colon removal, prostate removal, and during the surgery they discovered his bladder was compromised as well. As a result, he now has a colostomy and urostomy.
This, in itself, is enough for me to want to stamp out this terrible disease. However, over the past 10+ years, he has had more than 15 surgeries both for recurrences of the disease as well as complications. A "complication" even resulted in him having to have a kidney removed due to a severe infection caused by his urostomy.
On a "selfish" note - I also know that due to genetics, I have a higher probability of contracting this destructive disease myself. So my cause is both for my dad, and for myself as well as my two brothers.
I am hoping folks in the MGoBlog community will join the MGoBlog Movember team I’ve created. I am also hoping that we can periodically publish updates throughout the month, including photos of your awesome ‘staches.
I think this can both be a fun and effective way to get the MGoBlog community involved in a great cause. I can forsee Friday Moustache PosBang threads with updated pictures throughout the month (minus the PosBangs LOL).
The committment is minimal, as all anyone needs to do to show support is grow a moustache throughout November...and if you wish to collect donations, that's even better. All donations can be handled straight through the team websites so no cash handling is even required.
Please take a moment to consider my "story" and idea, and let me know if you guys would be able to help in some way. Any and all assistance would be greatly appreciated! I know, I know...TL;DR...but I hope you did.
If you'd like to check out the team site already built, please visit: http://moteam.co/mogoblue
Thank you all in advance!
EDIT: This runs through the month of November...so you start Nov. 1 with a clean-shaven face and keep a 'stache throughout the month.
October 7th, 2013 at 9:09 AM ^
October 7th, 2013 at 9:11 AM ^
as with most things, there are rules to this cause:
http://us.movember.com/news/view/id/2220/category/local/
I am not a fan of moustaches, but in this case I will make an exception and look as silly as I have to.
October 7th, 2013 at 10:11 AM ^
Sorry, but I'm forsaking the first rule. If I try to grow just a mustache 1) no one will even realize until the end of the month, thereby negating the goal of raising awareness and 2) I won't be allowed near schools, which is difficult since my typical running route takes me past Huron.
I'm taking the month of October to grow out a beard and carving out the 'stache at the beginning on November. While concern #2 above will still be an issue, at least people will realize I'm participating in Movember.
October 7th, 2013 at 10:28 AM ^
like a plan! I won't hold it against you...the participation is the key in my mind.
Are you going to join the team? The more the merrier!
October 7th, 2013 at 10:55 AM ^
joined, just wanted to clear my disobedience to the rules first
October 7th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
and welcome to the team! I believe your method is probably the most followed...some are "follically challenged" so choose to start with the beard and shave down for November.
Happy growing!
October 7th, 2013 at 9:15 AM ^
Is there a way for those of us who are facial hair challenged to donate?
October 7th, 2013 at 9:19 AM ^
Just go to the site: http://mobro.co/MoGoBlue and you should be able to donate freely.
Thank you in advance!
October 7th, 2013 at 9:29 AM ^
My father has battled prostate cancer as well. It's taken a toll on him physically. I agree, we need to do better on raising awareness for this cause.
October 7th, 2013 at 9:30 AM ^
Awareness is low on this topic. Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer in men:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=25264
I've thought about ways to raise awareness similar to the "Pink" of the breast cancer movement. Everything seems to have a "color". Pink is breast cancer, Red is HIV/AIDS, etc. etc.
Apparently 'Light Blue' comprises men's health and cancer:
http://www.danaraejewelry.com/awareness-ribbon-colors.html
But this color is shared with a ton of other causes: Prostate cancer, mens health, thyroid disease, lymphedema, Addison's Disease,Trisomy 18, Velo-Cardio Facial Syndrome, Klinefelter's Syndrome, hyperaldosteronism, scleroderma, Behcets Disease, Graves Disease, Shprintzen Syndrome, Edward's Syndrome
It would be great if we could find a way to make this cause stand out as much as others.
October 7th, 2013 at 9:23 AM ^
Props to you for putting a team together. It's a good cause and a good thing you're doing here. I've assmebled a team for a couple years (though not this year), held events and had some success raising a decent amount of money and awareness. It takes people like you to take the charge and make it happen. As the NFL and the rest of the country turns pink to raise awareness for breast cancer (a worthy cause, but it now feels like someone is making lots of money rather than saving lives), it's good to see people remembering that men get cancer too. Not just prostate, but lung, brain, etc.
As for those asking about the growth of the mo itself, yes...mustache only. No beards. If you grow sparse hair, that's even better. The whole point is for people to ask why you're growing the stache, at which point you can direct them to donate.
October 7th, 2013 at 9:26 AM ^
for the props and clarification on the rules. I am definitely "follically blessed" but many others aren't. But the wispy little 'staches seem to draw the most conversation - which allows those involved to explain the WHY they are growing a 'stache...which in turn raises awareness and involvement.
Hope you will join the team! Looking forward to seeing more 'Mo Bros!
October 7th, 2013 at 9:40 AM ^
Good idea....maybe one of our docs or someone in the know could post the latest screening recommendations for prostate cancer as they seem to have a variable landscape.
October 7th, 2013 at 9:46 AM ^
I know how variable it is, as I was told I didn't need to be screened until I was 45. Now that I'm 39, the latest recommendations since I have a family history are bi-annual screenings after 30. So...I've missed a few exams. LOL
Thankfully, I'm ok so far.
October 7th, 2013 at 9:48 AM ^
I will not only donate, but I will see if I can't get some inter-office action on this one at work because I know there are people here who have had family members affected by this. Awesome cause, and thanks for sharing your own experiences.
October 7th, 2013 at 9:59 AM ^
LSAClassOf2000!
Appreciate the help getting the word out!
October 7th, 2013 at 9:58 AM ^
...your heartfelt dedication to this cause.
That said, I hate to be a cynic, but there is simply too much money to be made "treating" this disease, whatever form it takes. I firmly believe the medical community has an unspoken secret: "Don't find a cure. Keep on treating it with expensive and largely ineffective protocols."
I say this having lost my wife to cancer three years ago and experienced the system first-hand.
October 7th, 2013 at 10:06 AM ^
I'm very sorry for your loss. In my own experience, in some ways I would agree. Lots of reliance on the "tried and true" protocols vs. innovation. But also in some ways I would say this area is under-funded compared to other cancer research. I don't want to seem Non-PC, but the fact no one seems to know November is prostate cancer month but October there is pink everywhere drives me nuts. We need to raise awareness and push more funding towards this cause.
Again, I am very sorry for your loss.
October 7th, 2013 at 10:06 AM ^
My aunt worked as an administer of chemo for a few years. And she was convinced of the same thing. It makes sense that you make more money off of a treatment, more than a cure. I really believe people are dedicated to finding a cure. But I am sure anyone who has come close has probably been taken out. Money covers up a lot of things, and there is a lot of money involved in the treatment of cancer.
October 7th, 2013 at 10:06 AM ^
I worked at a cancer center for several years and can tell you this is simply not true. People are dedicating their lives towards research and expanding clinical trials.
October 7th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
...are they clinical trials of new medications to treat, or cure? My quarter says the former.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:10 AM ^
You are so wrong. Our own University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center is the leading research organization in the world for cancer stem cell research, which many believe will lead to actual cures from targeting the root of the problem, as opposed to treating its symptoms.
http://www.mcancer.org/research/stem-cells
http://www.mcancer.org/research/stem-cells/breast
As an aside, in addition to this OP's great cause, I would encourage everyone to donate to the Michigan Cancer Center. They are doing truly incredible things and the money you donate will actually go to cutting-edge research.
October 7th, 2013 at 6:51 PM ^
Putting "stem cell" after your research is a way to get funding. Stem cells are precursor cells that eventually differentiate into more familiar cells. The "bad" cancers are ones that are highly undifferentiated cells; basically they are immortalized, don't differentiate and don't function properly. They can spread randomly throughout the body because they don't follow the "rules" and connect to neighboring cells like they are supposed to. So, by definition, these types of cancers are "stem cells". So how do these cancers form? There are a few ways: one is by oncogenic transformation and another is by loss of a tumor suppressor gene. Figuring out these mechanisms are how new treatments are being generated including some recent lung cancer treatments targeting anaplastic lymphoma kinase.
October 8th, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^
Thanks for the explanation, but that doesn't really have anything to do with my point about the stem cell research being done at UM or my request to show support for the UM Cancer Center.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
Both. Institutions like UM and Karmanos have explicit mission statements to find the cure for cancer. While true that cancer treatment generates enourmous revenue, that money gets invested back into the company for better equipment and research. Most are non profit organiztions. If one was to suggest that an actual cure for cancer existed, you would have to find who benefits from keeping that public. It wouldn't be the institutions themselves nor the researchers.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:03 AM ^
What you're failing to recognize is that companies/people who do not currently profit from treating cancer could make themselves rich beyond belief by finding a cure.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
Unfortunately, many times the development of medications falls squarely on the shoulders of large drug companies. There is no incentive for large drug companies to develop a cure, rather, they prefer treatments that can be given over and over. When the patent is up, they come up with a slight modification so they can keep getting the big bucks. You will hear many cases of drugs developed by smaller companies that have great promise towards a cure of many diseases that get bought up by larger drug companies and the drug is shelved. My husband has thought it would be great if someone (government, someone filthy rich, etc...) would give a BILLION dollar reward to the person/company that develops a cure for cancer, DM, etc... Until there is a lot of money in a cure (comparable to repeating monthly payments), there is no incentive for drug companies to do this.
October 7th, 2013 at 12:05 PM ^
Hypotheticaly, If UM or a like institution was to find the cure for cancer then that information would become public immediately through them. The drug companies would not have the opportunity to bury that information. They are not involved at the point. The government is already giving vast rewards through grants to companies who are leading in research.
October 7th, 2013 at 6:39 PM ^
A researcher starts out with an idea and eventually gets NIH funding. If the research shows promise, any compound is patented. The researcher/University creates a start-up company and additional research is performed via grants. If a potential drug shows promise, then the company goes for venture cap dollars and/or agreements are made with a pharmaceutical company to get payments for reaching various milestones (e.g. successful conclusion of phase 1/2 study). As the drug gets closer to development, in many cases the smaller company sells itself to the larger company because the cost of regulatory approval and eventual distribution is beyond the scope of the small firm. Then comes making back your investment and then profit.
October 7th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
October 7th, 2013 at 11:55 PM ^
Medicine is focused on treating disease, public health is focused on preventing it. I think both communities would be happy to have a cure, but they'd probably look at the way to achieve it in different ways.
October 7th, 2013 at 7:55 PM ^
October 7th, 2013 at 10:02 AM ^
or even earlier. Plesae keep posting updates. FYI, I am terrible at facial hair things. I am in the process of growing out about all I can grow out. I will shave everything but my mustache to start november, and rock it all month long.
If I were to start with a clean shaven face on November 1, you wouldn't be able to tell I was supporting anything until December!
October 7th, 2013 at 10:08 AM ^
Glad to have you aboard! You can join the team even if you would rather not try to get donations. As I invite people to join, it would be great for them to see the participation!
And the terrible hair growth is worth it! Seems like those that have sparse or limited hair generate more conversation than my "facial flow"! Gets people talking about this important cause!
October 7th, 2013 at 10:07 AM ^
October 7th, 2013 at 10:09 AM ^
Since your avatar looks like a Mug Shot of a Pedo - I think you're already there!
October 7th, 2013 at 10:14 AM ^
October 7th, 2013 at 10:32 AM ^
My Dad is a survivor of this disease as well - thankfully for him it was found relatively early and his treatment was fairly simple compared to your father's and he's approaching the "2 years clean" mark. Hopefully you, your brothers & my brothers will not ever have to face it!
good luck to all of you growing the 'staches - I look forward to the photo updates!
*edit to add: made a donation to the team, thanks for including the link!
October 7th, 2013 at 10:36 AM ^
very much!
My father's was found somewhat late, and originally they gave him a 10% chance of "making it". Thankfully he's not only survived, but thrived! When he goes to the hospital for check-ups/exams, they literally call down interns and students to see him. They look at the size of his file for his medical record and call him a miracle. He is. :)
October 7th, 2013 at 10:36 AM ^
Wish adidas had light blue gear for September for Prostate Cancer Awareness month.
October 7th, 2013 at 10:38 AM ^
October 7th, 2013 at 10:43 AM ^
very sorry to hear that. For those who haven't gone through anything like this, it's difficult to understand or help cope beyond the "I'm sorry" response. There ARE support groups out there for various types of cancer or cancer in general. I know they helped me in my father's case. 10+ years of fighting the disease would have been impossible on my own.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:04 AM ^
I can echo this... the stress and pain is incredible. I spent over a year watching my wife die a slow, agonizing death. I lost 20 lbs (I got down to 145) in the process. Too many tears, too many feelings of helplessness and hopelessness while praying it would have been me instead.
I'm still reeling and have a 12 year-old to raise who misses her mom every day.
In hindsight, I wish we would have traveled and tried alternative (Gerson Institute) therapies instead. Once you're into the traditional protocols, it's really difficult to pull yourself out of the vortex.
October 7th, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^
My mother died from breast cancer in 2011. In January of 2012, my father found out he had prostate cancer. Luckily, it was discovered ealy and he had it removed. So far, so good on any recurrence.
Interesting fact that I learned from the urologist when I went with my father to an appointment. 90% of men that live to 90 years old will have prostate cancer at some point. Sobering thought if you plan on not dying soon. So yeah, cancer sucks.
October 7th, 2013 at 10:45 AM ^
something very similar...and since we both have parents who had the disease, we are genetically predisposed to get the disease.
Not-CSB moment.
October 7th, 2013 at 2:10 PM ^
Yeah, the future looks like it has some bad things in store for me. Is there a "Depressing Reality Story, Bro" meme?
October 7th, 2013 at 10:55 AM ^
Prostate cancer really could benefit from a more aggressive awareness campaign. Too many cancers are detected late because male culture is obstinate when it comes to seeking medical attention and routine check-ups, and lives are unnecessarily lost as a result.
After typing that, I recognize that I'm very guilty of victim blaming, and I don't mean to come across that way. But, I just wish there could be some highly visible campaigns come out for prostate cancer awareness. Unfortunately, breats are way more sexy than prostates, and sex sells in America.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^
on all points. It's not "manly" to have someone check out your prostate - most avoid it at all costs. Even myself, knowing that I am genetically predisposed to this disease was happy to know I didn't need to be checked until age 45. Now that they've updated the information to say I should have been getting it done every two years since age 30, I realize I could have been at risk all along.
There is VERY limited awareness out there. Most people don't know Prostate cancer is the #1 cancer for men!!
Spread the word, 'Mo Bros!
October 7th, 2013 at 11:16 AM ^
Totally on board. Let's get team t-shirts.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:29 AM ^
Maybe we can convince the guys who make the MGo gear to design something we can buy...who handles that?
Thinking slogans:
MGo-for the Cure
MGo-Staches
Moustache Rides - It's a Twosie (submitted tongue in cheek of course!)