The Mo Will Grow

http://mobro.co/joefusco

Well, here it is, the third day in my Movember journey. I have such dark hair (where it's still dark) and a heavy beard that there hasn't been a lot of change visible yet but there has been change. And yes, I shaved around the Mo before I took the picture.

Movember - Day 3

I haven't yet done the check I promised to do. I was not quite awake when I showered yesterday and forgot  ball about it :).

If you look back a couple of days you'll see my before and after picture. I've had a beard for the last 25 years so it's quite a commitment for me to start with a clean shaven face. That's how important this is to me. I hope you will show a commitment, too, and support me and the Movember cause by making a donation - large or small, it all helps.

• You can donate online at: http://mobro.co/joefusco. 
• If you'd prefer to write a check and mail it in, make your check payable to 'Movember', referencing my Registration ID: 4260065 and mail it to: Movember, PO Box 2726, Venice CA 90294-2726

For more details, take a look at the Programs We Fund section on the Movember website: http://us.movember.com/about/funding-overview/

Movember is a registered 501 (c)(3) charity, donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

For The Boys!

Donate to Movember: http://mobro.co/joefusco
Note: Movember is a registered 501c3 non-profit, and donations are tax deductible.

Movember isn't just about prostate cancer it's about all men's health issues - including testicular cancer. Yep, ball cancer is a real thing. Just ask Lance Armstrong.

Testicular cancer is not common; a man's lifetime chance of developing testicular cancer is about 1 in 270. Because treatment is so successful, the risk of dying from this cancer is very low: about 1 in 5,000. Just because the chances of developing testicular cancer are low and the survival rate is high that doesn't mean you shouldn't keep track of your boys. You should do periodic self exams - just like the ladies do with their breasts.

To be truthful, I've never done a testicular self exam so I turned to the America Cancer Society to educate me.

Testicular self-exam

The best time for you to examine your testicles is during or after a bath or shower, when the skin of the scrotum is relaxed.

• Hold the penis out of the way and examine each testicle separately.
• Hold the testicle between your thumbs and fingers with both hands and roll it gently between the fingers.
• Look and feel for any hard lumps or nodules (smooth rounded masses) or any change in the size, shape, or consistency of the testes.

You should be aware that each normal testis has an epididymis, which can feel like a small bump on the upper or middle outer side of the testis. Normal testicles also contain blood vessels, supporting tissues, and tubes that conduct sperm. Some men may confuse these with cancer at first. If you have any concerns, ask your doctor.

A testicle can get larger for many reasons other than cancer. Fluid can collect around the testicle to form a benign condition called a hydrocele. Other times, the veins in the testicle can dilate and cause enlargement and lumpiness around the testicle. This is called a varicocele. To be sure you have one of these conditions and not a tumor; you need to have a doctor examine you. The doctor may order an ultrasound exam (see the section, "How is testicular cancer diagnosed?"). This is an easy and painless way of finding a tumor.

If you choose to examine your testicles, you will become familiar with what is normal and what is different. Always report any changes to your doctor without delay.

Well, there you have it. It's easy. I'll be taking care of this simple task at some point in the near future.

Movember - Day 1

http://mobro.co/joefusco

Happy Movember!

Somewhere around 20 years ago my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. At the time I didn't even know what a prostate was. Turns out, it's something pretty important to get checked because about 1 man in 6 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. The American Cancer Society estimates about 241,740 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2012 and about 28,170 men will die of prostate cancer in 2012¹. Thankfully, my father is a cancer survivor and is still with us today at the age of 74 years. Due to early detection and treatment cancer will likely not be a factor in his passing, which I hope is not for many more years yet.

In the years since my father was diagnosed two things have happened. First, my parents have made sure that, since my mid-30s or so, I get regular screenings. Second, men's health awareness, especially in regards to prostate and testicular cancer, has increased significantly. That's what Movember is all about.

Movember is the global men's health charity engaging men to grow and women to support the Mo (moustache) for the 30 days of November.  Through the power of the moustache, awareness and funds are raised for men’s health, specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives.

One of the biggest obstacles men tackle in regards to general well-being, is a reluctance to discuss health issues they face either with their partner, family or doctor. Movember was born from recognition that a fun and engaging initiative could help encourage men to become more actively involved in their own health. Movember aims to increase awareness and support for men's health by getting conversations started at a grassroots level, educating men about the health risks they face and raising vital funds for support programs.²

This year my employer, Dell computers, decided to support Movember and encourage participation. Because of how prostate cancer has touched my family I decided to participate. Here's the kicker: Rule #1 is participants must start clean-shaven on November 1st. I haven't seen my upper lip in almost thirty years and I haven't seen my chin in about twenty-five! Hey, it's for a good cause. No, it's for an excellent cause.

So, what can you do to help?

First and foremost: Gentlemen, get yourself checked. Starting at age 50, men should talk to a doctor about the pros and cons of testing so they can decide if testing is the right choice for them. If they are African American or have a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age 65, men should have this talk with a doctor starting at age 45. If men decide to be tested, they should have the PSA blood test with or without a rectal exam. How often they are tested will depend on their PSA level.³

You can also donate straight from my Mo Space at http://mobro.co/joefusco. In each country, Movember partners with world class men’s health partners who share Movember’s vision of having an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health. In the United States the partners are the Prostate Cancer Foundation and  the LiveSTRONG Foundation. For full details, see this page.

So, without further ado... here are my before and after pictures for the start of this journey:

http://mobro.co/joefusco

Note: Movember is a registered 501c3 non-profit, and donations are tax deductible.

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¹ American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/prostate-cancer-key-statistics
² Movember and Sons - http://us.movember.com/media-room/movember-101/
³ American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/healthy/findcancerearly/cancerscreeningguidelines/american-cancer-society-guidelines-for-the-early-detection-of-cancer