September’s Topic is Cancer Awareness
October has long been known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There are nationwide events, PSAs, and media events centered on the topic. Almost every month, though, has a cancer awareness theme. For the month of September, there are eight different forms of cancer that are highlighted: Childhood, Gynecological, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Ovarian, Thyroid, and Prostate. While these may get some mention during the month, there does not seem to be as much fanfare as with breast cancer. It is important to remember that there are many forms of cancer.
In 2016, there will be over 1.6 million new cases of cancer diagnosed, and almost 600,000 people will die from it. In 2014, nearly 16,000 children (0 – 19 yrs.) were diagnosed with some form of cancer. Worldwide, cancer is among the leading causes of death. In the U.S., over $125 billion is spent on cancer care. Approximately, $5 billion is spent on cancer research.
Select Cancer Statistics:
Awareness Month Feature – September
The most devastating fact regarding these cancers is that the causes are unknown and therefore cannot be prevented.
Endometrial cancer is the most common form of female reproductive cancer; Ovarian cancer is eighth.
Over 64,000 people (approx. 15,000 men/49,000 women) will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer this year. It is the 5th most common cancer in women.
1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men after skin cancer.
Most widely known forms of cancer prevention – don’t smoke, visit your doctor for cancer screenings, wear sunscreen daily, and eat a healthy diet. For cancers that seem to be unpreventable, more research is needed to determine their cause.
Treatment for cancer can include chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy. Chemotherapy usually consists of a cocktail of drugs that are put into the body through the blood stream. Because they enter the bloodstream, these drugs travel all around the body. Chemotherapy can be used for a number of reasons – induce remission, prevent recurrence, alleviate symptoms, slow the disease process, and in combination with radiation. Common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, hair loss, fatigue, increase ability for infections, and loss of appetite.
Radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy radiation directed at the area where cancer is present. The focus of the radiation is to shrink the tumors. Radiation can either be administered outside the body or by putting radioactive material inside the body near the cancer. Side effects of radiation therapy can include hair loss, skin irritation, fatigue, and damage near where the seeds were placed in the body. Radiation therapy is a more focused approach and is used in conjunction with chemotherapy, at times, to shrink the tumor to make chemotherapy more effective.
Hormone therapy is introducing medicines into the body to affect the hormonal balance of the individual. An example of this is a woman being prescribed Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is used to suppress the estrogen release in a person. This has been used with various breast cancers as a way to reduce the reoccurrence.
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