Thursday, November 1, 2012

My Movember story

Today is November first, the beginning of Movember.  This is a very personal month and cause for me.  If you don't know the purpose of Movember, I really recommend that you take a minute to check out their website.  In a nutshell, it is a month of bringing awareness and funding to men's health, specifically prostate and testicular cancers, by growing a mustache.  It's all about getting the conversation and research going.

On Valentine's Day in 2011 my dad called me.  I was working night shifts and incredibly disoriented when he let me know that they had been seeing his doctor who had diagnosed him with early-stage prostate cancer.  The rest of that day was a haze.  He told me it was early and slow-growing, but all I could hear was cancer and I wasn't sure why I had such an insane dream that I couldn't pull out of.  I couldn't really wrap my mind around my dad having cancer.  Cancer.
My dad was a champ.  He was brave and honest.  We are fortunate to live near world-class medical centers. When he went to see a specialist, his biggest news was "I think I have Lance Armstrong's doc."  That's my dad!
After a lot of testing, discussion, prayer and thought, he decided to undergo surgery this past March.  Again, I spent a day in a haze.  I've always been a daddy's girl, his only daughter, the night owl who stayed up far into the night listening to stories and talking with him.  When I talked with my mom that night and heard that things went perfectly, literally THE best case scenario, I could only cry.
My dad has had months of recovery and working to get back into life as a conqueror of cancer.  Just a few days ago he received the all-clear from his specialist to simply check in with his personal doctor every six months as a cancer survivor!
We were so blessed and fortunate to have had amazing doctors and wonderful research that gave him back his health.  An important part of that is due to early detection.

Enter the mustache.


This month is about promoting men's health and talking about these cancers.  We have been so open to talking about breast cancer and women's health, which is empowering and so important, but men tend to avoid this subject.  Cue Movember.  As I mentioned in one of my Go Pink posts, a cure for one cancer is hope for all.  I'm committed to being a Mo Sista, spreading awareness because the men in my life are important to me.  Like my dad, knowing their bodies and their PSA numbers can save their lives.  I want to help make this as easy and natural to talk about as "Save the ta-tas" has become. 


*1 coat Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Hardener
*2 coats Color Club Take Me To Your Chateau
*1 coat Pure Ice Oh Baby!
*1 coat Out the Door (2 on accent nail)

That awesome little mustache is a nail decal from RLR Creations Nail Art on Etsy.  They are super inexpensive and easy to use, and much neater than my nail art!  Love it!


I used Take Me To Your Chateau, a pale blue cream, for prostate cancer awareness.  It is really opaque, but streaked a bit, so I added Oh Baby! over the top to camouflage the brush strokes.  This is a gorgeous, fine blue shimmer (you can really see it in the photo above). 


So this month is about bringing awareness to men and their health because it is personal, even for a girl.  I'll be posting some more manis about this subject, and would LOVE it if you would join me.  If you do, let me see your work!  Add onto the gallery below with your own story, your own ideas, your own Movember movement! 





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10 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing your story! ..and your mani looks great! :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Mandy! Your comments are so sweet and I love the mani you did (and I'll be over to your page in just a minute to say it there, too!) and really appreciate that you contributed!

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  2. Great manicure, and I am so thankful your dad is doing so well! A strong man!! I'll be adding my Movember post later in the month!!!

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    1. Thank you so much! Your sweet words mean so much. I'm so honored that you're going to contribute--I can't wait to see what you come up with!

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  3. Thanks for sharing your story! I would love to participate, could you please mail the information I need to do so? lackycorner@gmail.com

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    1. Hi Helena! Thank YOU for stopping by and for being so willing to add to this! I'm sending you an email now!

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  4. Very Cool! I'm a Mo Sista too! My husband shaved his face and is growing a mustache to raise money for the cause. http://us.movember.com/mospace/4638341

    Thanks for sharing your story! :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Kim! It looks like your husband already has a decent amount raised--congratulations! I like to repay the favor to people who check out my blog and I have two things to say. First, your cards are amazing! My aunt makes cards and I'm sending her your link (that tissue one is too cute)! Secondly, your story is inspirational. Sending nothing but love and prayers your way as you two fight on!

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  5. Congratulations on the news! May he have long and happy life!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words! We've got some serious thanks to give this year!

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