Move over Movember: Manuary’s making men’s mugs hairy

EDMONTON – You’ve heard of Movember moustaches, but now Manuary beards may be the latest trend to grace men’s faces.

Dr. Leigh Sowerby, will be sporting some scruff with his scrubs this month at the University of Alberta hospital as he starts the Manuary movement in Edmonton. It’s something doctors in London, Ontario did last year to raise awareness and funds for head and neck cancer, and Sowerby is hoping it’ll catch on here.

In recent years, the devastating disease has struck public figures such as Roger Ebert and Michael Douglas. But it also affects about 300 people in the Edmonton area every year.

“It’s actually the 5th or 6th most common cancer in the world, but it’s not something a lot of people know about unless you’ve had a loved one or friend or family that have gone through it,” says Dr. Sowerby. “It can be a very devastating type of cancer in that it affects areas that are visible to the public all the time.”

“Because you remove part of their face, part of their jaw, or part of their tongue, which leaves them not swallowing well, not talking well, not looking well. People tend to not leave the house,” explains Dr. Seikaly, the director the head and neck surgery at the University of Alberta.

And although surgery has come a long way – even allowing surgeons to replace a tongue with part of the arm – there’s still room for improvement.

That’s why local otolaryngologists are hoping to raise enough money during Manuary to help fund a special CT Scanner system for the U of A hospital, which would allow them to perform reconstructions with a greater degree of precision.

They’re also trying to increase awareness about the disease, especially since it can be treated well if detected early, but in the majority of cases, it’s not discovered until it’s quite advanced.

It’s also four times more likely to be found in men, and has recently been linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV).

“We know 80 per cent of some of these cancers are caused by a virus – the human papilloma virus – which is the same kind of virus that causes cervical cancer in women,” says Dr. Seikaly.

To make a difference, doctors are encouraging you to support the Manuary cause. Anybody can take part – even if you can’t grow a beard, you can make one or email a photo of yourself to Manuary.ca and have one made for you.

There will be also be a “Facial Hair Face-off” party at the end of month.

All money raised will be collected by the “University Hospital Foundation” and used locally.

With files from Su-Ling Goh