What Really Matters this Veterans Day Weekend

November 11, 2019 is Veterans Day. A day  to express our appreciation to all living veterans of our armed forces for their service in the defense of our freedoms. A close friend (fraternity brother) and I recently published Letters In A Helmet - A Story of Fraternity and Brotherhood. Ron, is a Vietnam Veteran, severely wounded eight months into his tour of duty commanding a rifle company.. Our friendship spans 50 years. While I served in the U.S. Army Reserve, I am  a veteran, but fortunately did not go to Vietnam. Having lost friends in that war and my friendship with Ron over the decades is what helped me in my journey with prostate cancer.Yet today it seems we are turning a blind eye to our veterans with PTSD, prostate cancer, as well as other cancers caused by the use of the chemical Agent Orange used in Vietnam to deforest the jungles. Veteran suicide rates are very high. Roughly 22 per day or one every 65 minutes according to a VA Study. They fought our battles abroad,,   and lost their war upon their returning home. We must do better.

While writing today I read an article written by Allex Tanzi  of the Washington Post whose by line was “Men’s life expectancy continues to decline” He cites the National Center for Health Statistics from their annual report.
The good news and ( paraphrasing ), is  that if you are a man and make it to age 65 you are likely to live another 18.1 years. I was 69 when diagnosed with T2C prostate cancer and a year after da Vinci robotic surgery my PSA is undetectable.  Of course there are a number of “detours” on the way to old age. What are signs of declining life expectancy? 
  1. Despair - Overdoses of narcotics is an epidemic is number one/
  2. Suicide by younger men and especially veterans. 
  3. 38% of men are obese.leading to related aiments (ie. diabetes)

However there are some positive reports of declining heart related deaths and cancer  dropped 15% over the last few years. Yet one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Seven out of 10 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, colon cancer, bladder cancer, or testicular cancer. Survival rates are higher thanks to better treatment options and increasing awareness. 

November is also "Movember". Movember is the world’s leading men’s health charity, with four focus cause areas in prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention. Men are encouraged to grow a mustache or a full beard. For more information go to www.movember.com .

What really matters is that the "V" in Movember stands for our Veterans. Thank them for their service and support them for their sacrifices for our freedoms.

Bob

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