Sailors aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) participated in the popular November mustache movement to promote awareness about men's health issues aboard the ship during the month of November.

"Men typically are less likely to seek medical treatment for their personal health issues than women are," said Chief Petty Officer Matthew Watton, who serves aboard Monterey as independent duty corpsman and ship's medical officer. "This is why detection of illnesses, in some cases testicular cancer and prostate cancer, isn't as early as it could be."

Watton goes on to explain that such cancers in men can start as early as 17 to 35, and something as simple as eating healty can improve any person's quality of life and prevent long-term health conditions.

According to the American Cancer Society, there are more than 26,000 deaths annually in the U.S. due to colon and rectal cancer, along with another 28,000 annual deaths attributed to prostate cancer.

"I grew my mustache for men's health," said Lt. j.g. John Smith, who serves aboard Monterey as auxiliaries officer. "You should never let yourself be too proud to get checked out."

Mustaches represent an understanding regarding these health conditions in addition to personal awareness on issues such as smoking, proper diet, adequate exercise and mental wellness.

"Visibly raising awareness is important because it shows support for men by other men, to step out of their comfort zones and into their doctors' offices for regular prostate exams," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Mosley, who serves aboard Monterey as an operations specialist.

Mosley further explains that he is participating in the mustache growing movement to educate his shipmates about male health concerns such as prostate and testicular cancer, which should not be overlooked.

Monterey, deployed as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, is supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

The Ike Carrier Strike Group is comprised of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10 staff, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), the squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff, the guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and Monterey, and the ships assigned to DESRON 26: the guided-missile destroyers USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), USS Mason (DDG 87) and USS Nitze (DDG 94).



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For more information from USS Monterey (CG 61), visit http://www.navy.mil/local/cg61.