Why I'll be clean-shaven in the month of November

Every November, we see pictures of hairy male faces all over the media.  The more outrageous the facial hair, the better!  It feels like a throwback to the 1970's, for those of us that can remember that far back.  But my face won't be one of the hairy ones.  It's my own personal objection to the tragedy of "Movember."

Men's health in general, and prostate cancer in particular, are serious issues, and I applaud the efforts of those who are trying to raise awareness and make a change for better health.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of health "awareness" campaigns do little for prevention and focus primarily on early detection – or raising money for a someday "cure" – and I'm certain that raising funds to detect and treat cancer is a backwards way of making the change we wish to see in the world.

The tide is turning.  When once it was unheard of for a doctor's opinion to be challenged, today's patients are getting second and third opinions, seeking out alternative care and pursuing natural, organic solutions to their health issues.

And now the medical system is being challenged by none other than the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President of the American Cancer Society.  How We Do Harm: A Doctor Breaks Ranks About Being Sick In America by Dr. Otis Webb Brawley, exposes the nasty side of medicine – those things we hear of, suspect, and experience that erode our confidence in conventional medical treatment.

Dr. Brawley shocks us with statistics.  Americans are suffering and dying avoidable deaths.  America spends 1.5 times as much per person on health care than any other country, yet it ranks 50^th in life expectancy and is 47^th in infant mortality.  He blames unnecessary and unproven treatments on a lack of scientific knowledge and the financial attractiveness of supporting pharmaceutical companies, medical manufacturers and hospital financial targets.  This is a shame.