Lance Armstrong

Assuming that you have any contact to media, and given that you are reading this post on the interweb I'm assuming that you do, you would have been privy to the spectacular fall form grace of the once heroic and indestructible Lance Armstrong.  In terms of the sporting impositions that have been placed upon him I really have no comment as I simple do not know enough about it.  But I do believe that if he is guilty (and that is not for me to decide) then you need to face the consequences.  Do the crime do the time.

However, although one part of his life has been seriously marred by this scandal I would implore people not to forget the fantastic work he has done.  I am of course, pointing to the work he has done with his charity "Live Strong".  He has brought a great deal of awareness to cancer sufferers all over the world and raised a huge amount of money to help sufferers and assist with research.

So I ask one thing of you all.  Do not let his charity or his charity work pay for his indiscretions.  This will not punish him but all the cancer patients he is trying to help.  The charity will have suffered enough without individuals deciding to pull their support away too.  Until next time, stay well:)

Survivor Story

In case you haven't figured it out from reading my previous posts, one thing that I really enjoy is cricket.  One of the players that I love to watch is an Indian guy by the name Yuvraj Singh.

Unfortunately for Yuvraj, about a year ago he contracted a rare form of cancer, and like anyone that contracts a serious disease it threw him through the ringer both physically and mentally.  Fortunately, his treatment in the USA was successful and he is now cancer free.  What I really like is his attitude and how his perspective on life has changed.

In a way I think that beating cancer may have even made him a stronger, better person.  I think that his story anyone that has contracted a serious disease can relate to.  Here is the article.  Enjoy and stay well:)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/560796.html

I was wrong

dI don't know what it is about boredom, but it blinds you to the obvious.  Just after I finished writing my post yesterday I suddenly realised that I had a bucket load to write about, I just hadn't figured it out yet.  It's funny how at times you can easily miss what is staring you right between the eyes.  And since I have not really done that much that is blog worthy I will divert my attention to another blog that I follow.  I have referred to this blog before and it belongs to Westby G Fisher MD.  I like the way he writes and he makes some interesting points.

This one point he makes is very interesting.  People shy away from the topic for the fear of being a sexist. But I don't think Dr Wes is a sexist.  Far from it.  But in this post he is just scratching the surface on what is a topic I believe needs far more attention.  His post is here:-

http://drwes.blogspot.com/2012/03/sexism-in-government-heart-health.html

Now the point I want to make here is that women are so much better than men at drawing attention to their health issues than men and good on women for doing it too.  I will use the breast cancer, prostate cancer example.  Both cancers effect a similar number of people, and both have similar death rates.

In Australia, there are two sporting events in Australia, pink footy day and Jane McGrath day at the AFL and cricket respectively.  Both days are designed to raise money and awareness for breast cancer, and they do a fantastic job doing it.  Commentators, players, officials and spectators alike all get behind it and the organisers can all give themselves a pat on the back because they do a fantastic job.

My point is why is prostate cancer or other mens health issues not given the same amount of media exposure?  I mean football and cricket are both sports that have a definite male skew, so why are these sports not utilised to communicate what is a male problem?

I'll tell you why.  Because men are lousy at speaking out about their health issues.  I don't know what it is.  Whether we are embarrassed or ashamed or lazy or prefer to just deal with these things by themselves or all of the above, but our health issues just don't get the same coverage.  So I've put a few ideas on what men can do to help themselves.

1. If you think something is wrong, get it checked.  You help yourself and the people just like you by getting in the system and beefing up the statistics.
2. Get a check up.  Officially I have one every 12 months.  Did you know that women account for 60% of all doctors appointments.  By looking after yourself you can help redress this imbalance and bring attention to men and their problems.
3. You don't need to have a great idea, just follow the ideas of others.  THere is strength in numbers.
4. Support by showing awareness or giving money.

These are but a few ideas.   As for women, we could really use your help or just keep doing what you're doing.  It is up to us men to catch up.  Until next time, stay well:)

Movember update

Oh my,  I think old Dirty Flynn(aka. Tyson aaka. T Bagger) has multi-personality disorder.  He hhas gone from service station robber to sleazy porn star in less than a week!

Dirty Flynn

Shakes, Stones and Shady Mo's

A friend of mine is doing Movember.  To tell you the truth it makes me feel kind of guilty because it is two brilliant causes that I really believe in and I'm not doing it.  See the links Below:-

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia

and

Beyond Blue

So I think apart from growing my own mo the best thing I can do is promote old Dirty Flynn (aka. Tyson Sheean).  Please don't let the fact he looks like he just knocked over a gas station dissuade you from donating, he is really a nice guy.

His page is linked below:-

Dirty Flynn

If anyone else wants to show off there movember page, just put the link in a comment for this post or send me a message and I'll do it for you.  Stay well:)