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Skin
Cancer Facts & Figures
Skin
cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. More
than 1-million Americans, alone, are diagnosed every year (every
five minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed with skin
cancer). Yet, skin cancer is also the most preventable cancer if
you are proactive about sun safety and sunscreen usage!! And
so the Cancer Crusaders Organization is proud to be the official
home of the Utah Skin Cancer Task Force to promote the new, official
national Skin Cancer Awareness ribbon symbol!
With that said,
here are some interesting facts you should know about the most common,
yet most preventable cancer in the world!
- Someone dies
from melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) every hour.
- 90% of skin
carcinomas are “curable” if detected early.
- 95% of skin
cancers are caused by over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
- 80% of one’s
lifetime sun damage occurs in the first 18 years of life.
- Sustaining
just one “blistering” sunburn increases your likeliness
of having a form of skin cancer by an estimated 60%.
- Utah’s
risk for skin cancer is the highest in the nation; 1 in 52 versus
1 in 75.
For more information, please refer to the research article ONLY
SKIN DEEP: PREVENTING THE MOST PREVENTABLE CANCER or visit www.skincanceribbon.com
Breast
Cancer Facts & Figures
More than 220,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed
with breast cancer this year, according to the Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of
death among American women, but there is hope! Early detection is
key to fighting and conquering breast cancer! Here’s how to
protect yourself and your loved ones from breast cancer:
- By age 20, every woman should begin performing self-breast
exams every month.
- By age 32, every woman should get annual mammograms (a mammogram
can detect a lump three years before it is even felt).
- Be cautious about HRT, estrogen pills/supplements, and birth
control (consult your doctor about your family history and risks
prior).
- Get an annual Pap Smear.
Did you know that reporter Cokie Roberts, actress Suzanne Somers,
actress Olivia Newton-John, singer Melissa Etheridge, and singer
Carly Simon all suffered (and conquered) breast cancer?!
Ovarian
Cancer Facts & Figures
Ovarian cancer kills more women than all of the
gynecologic cancers combined (cervical, uterine, etc.) and it is
the fourth leading cause of death among women in the United States.
Of the 25,500 women who will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this
year, 14,500 will die. While ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose
as symptoms are often associated with other reproductive problems,
there are signs you can look for:
- Bi-annual
pelvic exam.
- Ca125 blood
test (If it comes back elevated ask your doctor to repeat this
test monthly for several months. If it comes back progressively
more elevated each time, even if the values are low, this is an
indication that the condition is likely serious).
- Transvaginal
ultrasound.
- CT/Tissue
sampling.
- MRI
- Laparascopy.
Did you know that actress Fran Drescher successfully conquered ovarian
cancer, but it took 13 doctors and nearly two years before she was
properly diagnosed?!? Ladies, don’t be afraid to open your
mouth. You are your own best advocate. No one knows your body better
than you do, so listen to it and take control!
Get a free informational
brochure about ovarian cancer prevention and early detection from
us by calling at 801.863.6351 or emailing us at info@cancercrusaders.org
You can also check out the National
Ovarian Cancer Coalition
Prostate Cancer Facts
& Figures
Prostate
cancer will kill more than 40,000 American men this year. Approximately
1,700 of those men will be from Utah. Nearly 1 in 4 men will have
prostate cancer by the time they reach age 50, making prostate cancer
the number two killer of men in the United States today. Hence,
we urge all men beginning at age 25 to take action in the fight
against prostate cancer through early detection and screening.
Risk Factors
AGE: The older a man gets, the higher his risk.
NATIONALITY/RACE: Prostate cancer occurs twice as often in African-American
men.
DIET: Men who consume great quantities of red meat/animal products,
coupled with a sedentary lifestyle, tend to get prostate cancer
more often than men who are active and eat a variety of fruits/vegetables.
HEREDITY: A man who has a father or brother that suffered prostate
cancer has an estimated 10% higher chance of having prostate cancer
himself.
Signs & Symptoms
- Frequent
urination.
- Inability
to urinate.
- Painful
urination.
- Burning
sensations when urinating.
- Incontinence.
- Weak flow
of urine.
- Interrupted
urine flow.
- Leaking
or “dribbling.”
- Nocturia.
- Sexual difficulties
and/or Erectile Dysfunction.
- Chronic
pelvic pain.
SEE AN UROLOGIST TODAY IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE ONE OR MORE OF THESE
SYMPTOMS FOR THE LAST 2-3 WEEKS!!! For an informational brochure
on prostate cancer screening and treatment, call or send a self-addressed
stamped envelop to us at: Cancer Crusaders Organization. P.O. Box
2076. Provo, UT 84603. You can also check out the National
Prostate Cancer Coalition
In honor of
Lance Armstrong’s birthday in September, we are providing
information on testicular cancer. As many of you know, Lance Armstrong
is the six-time Tour de France Champion and a 10-year cancer survivor!
(Get your official “Live Strong” bracelet from us today
to honor him throughout the month of September. Check out our products
page on how to your bracelet today).
Testicular Cancer
Facts & Figures
It
is expected that 7,600 men in the United States will be diagnosed
with testicular cancer this year, with more than 400 deaths. Testicular
cancer usually affects American-Caucasian men in the 20s, but any
many between age 15 and age 50 can get testicular cancer.
Tell-Tale Signs
• Any enlargement of a testicle.
• A significant loss of size in one of the testicles.
• A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
• A dull ache in the lower abdomen or in the groin.
• A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.
• Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum.
• Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts.
Tip of the Day
Performing self testicular exams is best done in a warm-to-hot shower
as heat helps relax the scrotum, hence making it easier to decipher
what feels “normal” for your testicles and what does
not. Ladies, encourage the men in your life to perform monthly self
testicular exams. After all, testicular cancer has a 75% survival
rate of detected early!
Lung
Cancer Facts & Figures
It is expected
that there will be more 160,4400 deaths of lung cancer in the United
States this year. Lung cancer kills more American women than breast
cancer, and more American men than prostate cancer every year. Some
facts you should know about lung cancer are:
More Americans
die each year from lung cancer than from breast, prostate, and colorectal
cancers combined.
Approximately
173,770 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in 20043, accounting
for 13% of all new cancer cases.
An estimated
160,440 Americans will die in 2004 from lung cancer, accounting
for 28% of all cancer deaths.
Annually, lung
cancer kills more men than prostate cancer and more women than breast
cancer.
While overall
cancer incidence rates are declining, lung cancer incidence rates
among women continue to rise.
Between 1960
and 1990, deaths from lung cancer among women increased by more
than 400%.
An estimated
68,510 women in the U.S. will die this year from lung cancer.
An estimated
91,930 men in the U.S. will die this year from lung cancer.
Lung cancer
is the second most common cancer among African American men and
women, and kills more African Americans than any other cancer. (Source:
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention).
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