Movemeber is all about raising awareness to men's health issues, but especially about testicular and prostate cancer. A lot of people don't know that testicular cancer impacts young guys typically 15-34. Being that this forum is used by predominantly men and a lot of younger men, I figured sharing it here could have a positive impact.
If any other guys are on here participating in Movember, I encourage you to share your story if you are comfortable, share your fundraising links on here and bump the thread throughout the month with your stache growth photos.
The following is taken from a facebook post I posted yesterday.
Well Movember is here and I guess it is time for me to try to grow a nice stache. Perhaps I can grow one even sweeter than this one from years ago. For one thing, this year it means a lot more to me.
2017 was a hard year for my family. My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 15th. Five days later on March 20th I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Now six months since my surgery and it being Movember I wanted to share a part of my story to help bring awareness to testicular cancer but also men’s health in general.
I, like a lot of men, never went to the doctor for an annual physical. As men we often ignore pains and symptoms to think we will be fine, because we are men and we are tough! My sister’s diagnosis shocked me into reality. I went immediately to see an urologist as I had brushed off a warning sign for a few months.
Besides occasionally going to the doctor when I was sick, I don’t think I had been for a full annual physical since the one that was required to get before I went to college. It may or may not have detected things earlier, but it is something I should have been doing all along. Even more important is I should have listened to my body and got checked out sooner.
After numerous tests and doctor appointments April 7th I had surgery to remove the tumor which meant losing a testicle. Not something that any guy wants to hear, but you keep moving forward. In reality I wanted that thing out of my body as soon as I was told it was it was cancer. I was very lucky the tumor was contained in the one testicle and no chemo or radiation would be necessary. I am now 6 months out and my first two post opp CT scans are clean. I have 4.5 years of regular appointments and CT scans to go, but I promise you I am not going to miss or delay any of them.
A lot of people don’t know that testicular cancer is known as a “young man’s disease.” It is typically found in young men 15-34. At 36 I am a rare outlier in the statistics. If you are no longer general age range doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be checking yourself as you too could be an outlier like me. Not to mention as we get a little older as much as we would prefer to skip out on the prostate exam it might just save your life.
Young women grow up with a consistent message to regularly check their breast. Men not so much about checking out their boys. I actually had to google it what I was looking for when I first had symptoms. However self-checks are not enough sometimes. I actually did a few when I first started having pain, but everything felt fine, no irregularities no consistent pain. I reverted back to, I am a man and I will be ok. I rationalized it by saying I have a 6 year old who I have taken a knee or an elbow from more times than I would like to; it is probably just bruised. I didn’t listen to my body.
What I want most from people reading this is to have a greater awareness about men specific cancers and what men need to do to detect them as early as possible:
https://us.movember.com/mens-health/testicular-cancer
https://us.movember.com/mens-health/prostate-cancer
I think this is the most important take away and might apply to some women reading this as well. Regular checkups and annual physicals are important. My sister’s cancer was detected due to a routine screening and if she had delayed it or skipped a year it would have been detrimental and possibly fatal.
Last but not least to everyone, I know we can be stubborn sometimes, but listen to your body. It is telling you things!
No donation is necessary or expected, but they are always greatly appreciated. I have created two different donation pages linked below, one to promote men’s health and awareness of testicular and prostate cancer and one to help fund research and treatment for cancers of all types.
Movember Foundation – For the past 13 years they have promoted men’s health, many of which you might know about due to November being also well known as Movember, where men grow mustaches during the month of November to raise money and awareness of some of the biggest health issues faced by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention
Movember Donation Link - https://mobro.co/13630052
The Jimmy Fund – solely supports Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, raising funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research to improve the chances of survival for cancer patients around the world. Eighty-eight cents of every dollar you give goes directly to cancer research and patient care.
Jimmy Fund Donation Link - https://www.kintera.org/c.dtIOKYNKLk...5OOIfLSIbOVKwH
For those that know my sister. I think I can speak for both of us, as terrible as it was that we both were diagnosed at the same time our already special bond grew even stronger as we had each other to lean on while truly understanding one another in a very scary time. Beyond what I said briefly above, I will not say too much about my sister as that is her story and hers to share, but I will say her long hard road has finally come to a finish with her last recent surgery. Cam I love you and I can’t wait to celebrate our 2022 Cancer Free party together!
I also want to say a huge thank you to my family and friends for everything these past few months I love you guys. Even just short phone calls to see how I was feeling and the cards did not go unnoticed and were immensely appreciated.
If any other guys are on here participating in Movember, I encourage you to share your story if you are comfortable, share your fundraising links on here and bump the thread throughout the month with your stache growth photos.
The following is taken from a facebook post I posted yesterday.
Originally posted by zeemz
Well Movember is here and I guess it is time for me to try to grow a nice stache. Perhaps I can grow one even sweeter than this one from years ago. For one thing, this year it means a lot more to me.
2017 was a hard year for my family. My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 15th. Five days later on March 20th I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Now six months since my surgery and it being Movember I wanted to share a part of my story to help bring awareness to testicular cancer but also men’s health in general.
I, like a lot of men, never went to the doctor for an annual physical. As men we often ignore pains and symptoms to think we will be fine, because we are men and we are tough! My sister’s diagnosis shocked me into reality. I went immediately to see an urologist as I had brushed off a warning sign for a few months.
Besides occasionally going to the doctor when I was sick, I don’t think I had been for a full annual physical since the one that was required to get before I went to college. It may or may not have detected things earlier, but it is something I should have been doing all along. Even more important is I should have listened to my body and got checked out sooner.
After numerous tests and doctor appointments April 7th I had surgery to remove the tumor which meant losing a testicle. Not something that any guy wants to hear, but you keep moving forward. In reality I wanted that thing out of my body as soon as I was told it was it was cancer. I was very lucky the tumor was contained in the one testicle and no chemo or radiation would be necessary. I am now 6 months out and my first two post opp CT scans are clean. I have 4.5 years of regular appointments and CT scans to go, but I promise you I am not going to miss or delay any of them.
A lot of people don’t know that testicular cancer is known as a “young man’s disease.” It is typically found in young men 15-34. At 36 I am a rare outlier in the statistics. If you are no longer general age range doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be checking yourself as you too could be an outlier like me. Not to mention as we get a little older as much as we would prefer to skip out on the prostate exam it might just save your life.
Young women grow up with a consistent message to regularly check their breast. Men not so much about checking out their boys. I actually had to google it what I was looking for when I first had symptoms. However self-checks are not enough sometimes. I actually did a few when I first started having pain, but everything felt fine, no irregularities no consistent pain. I reverted back to, I am a man and I will be ok. I rationalized it by saying I have a 6 year old who I have taken a knee or an elbow from more times than I would like to; it is probably just bruised. I didn’t listen to my body.
What I want most from people reading this is to have a greater awareness about men specific cancers and what men need to do to detect them as early as possible:
https://us.movember.com/mens-health/testicular-cancer
https://us.movember.com/mens-health/prostate-cancer
I think this is the most important take away and might apply to some women reading this as well. Regular checkups and annual physicals are important. My sister’s cancer was detected due to a routine screening and if she had delayed it or skipped a year it would have been detrimental and possibly fatal.
Last but not least to everyone, I know we can be stubborn sometimes, but listen to your body. It is telling you things!
No donation is necessary or expected, but they are always greatly appreciated. I have created two different donation pages linked below, one to promote men’s health and awareness of testicular and prostate cancer and one to help fund research and treatment for cancers of all types.
Movember Foundation – For the past 13 years they have promoted men’s health, many of which you might know about due to November being also well known as Movember, where men grow mustaches during the month of November to raise money and awareness of some of the biggest health issues faced by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention
Movember Donation Link - https://mobro.co/13630052
The Jimmy Fund – solely supports Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, raising funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research to improve the chances of survival for cancer patients around the world. Eighty-eight cents of every dollar you give goes directly to cancer research and patient care.
Jimmy Fund Donation Link - https://www.kintera.org/c.dtIOKYNKLk...5OOIfLSIbOVKwH
For those that know my sister. I think I can speak for both of us, as terrible as it was that we both were diagnosed at the same time our already special bond grew even stronger as we had each other to lean on while truly understanding one another in a very scary time. Beyond what I said briefly above, I will not say too much about my sister as that is her story and hers to share, but I will say her long hard road has finally come to a finish with her last recent surgery. Cam I love you and I can’t wait to celebrate our 2022 Cancer Free party together!
I also want to say a huge thank you to my family and friends for everything these past few months I love you guys. Even just short phone calls to see how I was feeling and the cards did not go unnoticed and were immensely appreciated.
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