November's mustache movement raises awareness for men's health

HOUSTON – Talking about men’s health can be a bit taboo, so instead, this story is about your nose neighbor.

The Today Show’s Matt Lauer and Al Roker are rocking crumb catchers.

Houston Life’s Derrick Shore has a kiss tickler. The grass grin is showing up everywhere.

“For me, it sparks a conversation because I don’t typically have facial hair,” says Dr. Alfred Mansour, an orthopedic surgeon at Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute and UTHealth. “It gets people to say, ‘hey Dr. Mansour, there’s something different you’re growing, trying to grow a beard’ you can say ‘actually, men’s health.’”

It’s Movember – a moustache movement in November to raise awareness about prostate and testicular cancer along with other men’s health issues.

“Just starting that conversation ... puts it on people’s mind and then if you get it on people’s mind, then they’re going to have a positive benefit from it,” says Dr. Mansour who is also a first-time participant in the monthlong, lip caterpillar endeavor.

The event goes back to 2003 when two mates in Australia, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, challenged themselves and 30 friends to bring back the fashion trend that is the flavor saver. It started so much conversation, they re-grew their mouth brows in 2004 and raised funds to fight prostate cancer. The Movember Foundation was born.

“I just wanted to add a little bit extra flare. So I figured the handle bar and then the soul patch wasn’t even my idea, that was the barber’s recommendation,” says a bristle-batons wearing Don McDonald.

Don styled his face lace for the first time after his gym, Paper Street CrossFit, hosted a STACHE Fest. He believes all this lip luggage is making a difference.

“It’s definitely hard to kind of share your emotions with other people,” McDonald said.

“Sometimes we’re the worst patients to get in there and say ‘you know what maybe I have an issue,’” Mansour said.

It’s not too late to grow your mo for the month of November. It could even save a life.