Written by Lauren James Budhu
As winter approaches with its colder weather, sweatshirts, pants and jackets tend to keep most of the body covered day-in and day-out. Yet come November, razors are ditched by many for another reason: to raise awareness for cancer by way of No-Shave November.
During this month-long journey, participants forgo shaving and grooming to bring about conversation and raise cancer awareness. It’s all about embracing our hair – which many cancer patients lose during chemotherapy treatments – and letting it grow wild. Participants also donate the money typically spent on shaving and grooming to educate others about cancer prevention, save lives, and help those who are fighting the disease. More than $12,000,000 has been raised for cancer awareness and research since 2009, supporting nonprofits working to treat and defeat cancer.
Nearly everyone knows someone who has been afflicted with cancer – a large group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells that can affect just about any organ. Although the causes of development aren’t completely understood, many factors are known to increase possible risk; some are modifiable, such as tobacco use, poor diet and excess body weight, whereas others are not, like inherited genetic mutations. These risk factors may act simultaneously or in sequence to promote cancer growth.
More than 1.9 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2023, with close to 600,000 deaths from cancer this year. Everyone ultimately is at risk of cancer, although cases rise with age– 88% of people diagnosed with cancer are over 50 years old and 57% are 65 years and older.
Help cut your chances of getting cancer with these six lifestyle tips from the Mayo Clinic:
- Of course, don’t use tobacco! Nix the cigs and chewless tobacco, which causes many cancers, such as lung, mouth, throat, pancreas, bladder, etc.
- Nosh on a healthy diet: Eating plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains and beans can make a difference in your health. Try the Mediterranean Diet, which focuses mostly on plant-based foods. Also limit alcohol intake and processed meats.
- Maintain a healthy weight and be physically active: By keeping yourself at a healthy weight, it may lower certain cancers like breast, prostate, lung, colon and kidney. Exercise matters, too; it’s key for maintaining optimal health, in general, but it also may lower the risk of breast and colon cancer. Shoot for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.
-Shield yourself from the sun: Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and also one of the most preventable. Cover your skin, avoid the midday sun, stay in the shade when possible, lather on sunscreen (try SPF 30), and don’t use tanning beds.
- Get regular medical care: Get regular screenings for cancers and do your own self-exams. This can increase the chances of finding cancer early when treatment is most likely to succeed. Work with your provider about the best cancer screening schedule for you!
So do you want to join the hair movement now? Stop shaving and start fundraising here, or support the cause by donating to your favorite team or participant.
