{"id":128847,"date":"2015-12-02T19:44:04","date_gmt":"2015-12-02T09:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=128847"},"modified":"2020-11-02T17:30:15","modified_gmt":"2020-11-02T07:30:15","slug":"now-its-time-for-beards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2015\/12\/02\/now-its-time-for-beards\/","title":{"rendered":"Now It’s Time For Beards …"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DDHHS Bowel Screen Promotion Officer Claire Condon (Photo: DDHHS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

December 2, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now that men have shaved off their moustaches at the end of “Movember”, they’re being urged by the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service to hirsute up again for “Decembeard”.<\/p>\n

Men are being encouraged to grow a beard to raise funds and awareness of bowel cancer.<\/p>\n

DDHHS Bowel Screen Promotion Officer Claire Condon said the fun initiative was building momentum after it started in the United Kingdom three years ago.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOne in 10 men will develop bowel cancer in their lifetime. It is Australia\u2019s second biggest cancer killer and third leading cause of cancer in men,\u201d Ms Condon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than 2200 men die from the disease each year, which is more than double the national road toll for men.<\/p>\n

\u201cBowel cancer can affect men of all ages but the risk increases with age.<\/p>\n

\u201cMajor risk factors include a personal or family history of bowel cancer, being aged 50 years and over, as well as a history of bowel polyps, ulcerative colitis or Crohn\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cDecembeard is a fun and interesting way to raise awareness of this common disease.<\/p>\n

“Beards have really come back into fashion so why not grow a beard and raise awareness at the same time?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Condon encouraged all residents over the age of 50 to be screened for bowel cancer every two years.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe National Bowel Cancer Screening Program sends men and women turning 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 and 74 years old a free, easy-to-use kit to screen for bowel cancer,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kit can be completed in the privacy of your own home. Between 2015 and 2020, more age groups will be added to the screening program.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, anyone, no matter what their age, who experiences symptoms such as changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pains or blood when going to the toilet should see their doctor immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n