It makes sense, really, doesn’t it? To progress from one level of facial hair to another! Moustaches in November to beards in December. And there’s already an association of beards with December because of good old Saint Nicholas, otherwise known as Santa Claus. His feast day was celebrated last Sunday on 06 December.
Just to make it clear, we’re talking health promotion here. Movember promotes men’s health, with its earliest focus being prostate cancer risk. Staying in the nether regions, Decembeard promotes bowel cancer awareness and raises funds to fight this disease. Decembeard is a month-long campaign by Bowel Cancer UK where men are sponsored to ditch the razor and grow a beard in the name of bowel cancer awareness. Whether it’s the longest beard or manscaping the most epic design, it’s to get people asking about the beard and opening up the ‘bowel discussion’.
For those of us who struggle to grow a beard, Bowel Cancer UK offers the alternative of dedicating a star to someone special as an alternative fund-raising idea. Stars and beards, keeping up that Christmas theme!
Bowel cancer is the third most common cause of death in the world, affecting both men and women. Every year just over 40,000 people are diagnosed and more than 16,000 people die of the disease. If caught early enough bowel cancer can be successfully treated. The biggest problem is that people don’t like to talk about symptoms which are linked with what happens when they go to the toilet. Some people find it simply too embarrassing to start the conversation, even with their doctor.
When a person finds any sign, on or in their body, that might be linked to cancer, it takes courage to talk about it with anyone. That’s whether it’s a lump in a breast or an odd looking, black or bleeding spot on the skin. Talking about it makes the prospect that there is something wrong more real. The first conversation is usually with someone emotionally close to you. But when it is a possible sign of cancer which is related to going to the toilet, for example, seeing blood in the toilet pan or really bad diarrhoea, a lot of people can’t get beyond their embarrassment to discuss it with anyone, let alone face the fear they are feeling.
Access the links below to find out more about the symptoms of bowel cancer
Decembeard – Bowel Cancer Awareness December 2020: Rebecca Johnson on University of Kent Health & Wellbeing website
Bowel Cancer: NHS website
Symptoms of Bowel Cancer: macmillan.org.uk
What is Colorectal Cancer?: Carmella Wint and Jennifer Nelson, healthline.com
What is Bowel Cancer?: YouTube video by Cancer Research UK
What are the Symptoms of Bowel Cancer?: YouTube video by HCA Healthcare UK