Hospital doctors grow and show for Movember

BEN CURRAN/Manawatu Standard

FACIAL EXPRESSION: Urology doctors Homi Zargar, Stephen Coppinger, Jo Turagava, Quinten King, Raj Patel, and Christopher Chemsale display their moustaches.

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Doctors at Palmerston North Hospital's urology department have put their moustaches where their mouths are in an effort to boost men's health and prostate cancer awareness.

The "Uromos" Movember team of five consultants, two registrars and a house officer has raised about $600 this month.

Organiser Homi Zargar said the team wanted to promote awareness about prostate cancer but was not trying to push screen-testing down people's throats.

"If you have symptoms or concerns certainly you need to see your doctor. But it's not for everyone," he said. "We are saying to men it's OK to see your doctor if you have a problem."

This is the first time Dr Zargar has grown a moustache. "My wife doesn't like it but she's behind the cause," he said. "She's part of the team and she has donated money."

The award for hairiest doctor looks likely to go to house officer Sean Cullen, originally of Lower Hutt, whose furry face has put his fellow doctors to shame. "It's good fun and it's good to beat the boys."

Dr Cullen's colleagues blamed his overly high testosterone levels for his increased lip-hair growth.

Donations can be made to Team Uromos on the Movember website.

- © Fairfax NZ News