Washington, D.C. – September marks the nationwide observance of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The first Friday in September -- September 4, 2009 -- was the National Teal Day and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance will lead the efforts of thousands of Americans wearing teal to increase awareness about the deadly disease. Teal was the ovarian cancer community’s color and serves as a reminder that ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all the cancers of the reproductive system and a leading cause of cancer death among women.
In addition to wearing teal, the 47 Partner Member organizations of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance are hosting events across the country including health fairs, walk/runs and fundraisers. The Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation of New Jersey will “Turn the Town Teal” by blanketing their community with teal ribbons, balloons and flyers - an annual affair. The South Carolina Ovarian Cancer Foundation is releasing hundreds of butterflies in memory or in honor of loved ones to benefit ovarian cancer research and awareness. Annette Leal Mattern, ovarian cancer survivor and Co-founder of the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Arizona, says “We reached our goal to inform one million women in Arizona about the symptoms of ovarian cancer this year by partnering with Major League Baseball and the Arizona Diamondbacks. An early diagnosis is a woman’s best chance of survival.”
The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance strengthened its voice for the ovarian cancer community through relationships with Cartier, the Entertainment Industry Foundation and TriStar Products, Inc. In addition, the cause has been bolstered by celebrity support from Danica Patrick, Dara Torres, Janet Jackson, Kathy Bates and Rachel Zoe, who have all been touched by the disease in some way.
“Talking about this disease at the national level is essential because diagnosing it is so difficult. September is our opportunity to significantly increase awareness across the United States and ultimately, help save women’s lives,” explains Judith Abrams, President of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.
If the following symptoms occur almost daily for more than two weeks, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance advises that women see a gynecologist. These symptoms include:
Bloating
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)
There is no definitive test for ovarian cancer so experts suggest a combination of pelvic/rectal exam, a CA-125 blood test and a transvaginal ultrasound.
Established in 1997, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance is the foremost advocate for ovarian cancer in the United States. Until there is a cure for the disease, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, a 501(c) (3) organization, leads the national initiative to conquer ovarian cancer by uniting individuals and organizations at the local, state, and national levels to advance ovarian cancer research in the quest for early detection tests, improved health care practices, and development of live-saving treatment protocols.
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Cancer Preventive Measures
Cancer is a very deadly disease. This disease is one of the most deadly in terms of numbers killed year in and out. According to statistics one in three people will be affected by cancer. And one in four people will die of cancer. However cancer could be prevented in certain situations. The first step in cancer prevention is learning what causes it and the risk factors involved. Avoiding these risk factors can help a person reduce the likelihood of having cancers.
Here are the following risk factors that a person can avoid to prevent cancer.
1. Tobacco – 30% of all cancer deaths in the United States are caused by smoking. It is also responsible for 87% of all people affected by lung cancer. Aside from the lungs, other organs affected by smoking are pancreas, cervix, kidney, stomach and also cause acute myeloid leukemia. Quit smoking to decrease your chances of having cancer. Also try to avoid secondary smoke, secondary smoke can also be deadlier.
2. Have more physical activity – exercise greatly helps reduce your chances of having cancer. Even if it is only for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Exercising will also make you fit against other disease such as heart ailments. Try the exercise activities such as walking, running, aerobics, or yoga. Exercising can also help prevent obesity, which is also one major cause of cancer. Colon, breast, prostrate, endometrial, and lung cancer can have less chances of developing if you are exercising regularly.
3. Genetics – genetics is one of the causes of cancers. When your family has a history of cancer, the best thing to do is just take precaution. If your family has had a history of cancer, the mutated gene which causes cancer may have been passed down. If your family has had a history, you may get a genetic test. Remember that if your family has had a history of cancer it is not certain that you will have it. Your chances of developing it are just greater.
4. Environmental Factors – exposure to certain things within your environment can cause you cancer. Such things like asbestos or benzene can be able to cause cancer.
5. Unsafe Sex – you are suddenly exposed to not only HIV but also HPV. HPV is also known as Human Pappiliona Virus. Having this virus greatly increase a person’s chance of having anal, vulvar, cervical, or vaginal cancer. There are tests that help a person find out if he or she has the HPV virus. You will need to scrape the cervical cells and send them over to a lab.
6. Sun Exposure – greatly exposing yourself to UV rays will cause skin cancer. Be very wise when tanning or being exposed under the sun.
Here are the following risk factors that a person can avoid to prevent cancer.
1. Tobacco – 30% of all cancer deaths in the United States are caused by smoking. It is also responsible for 87% of all people affected by lung cancer. Aside from the lungs, other organs affected by smoking are pancreas, cervix, kidney, stomach and also cause acute myeloid leukemia. Quit smoking to decrease your chances of having cancer. Also try to avoid secondary smoke, secondary smoke can also be deadlier.
2. Have more physical activity – exercise greatly helps reduce your chances of having cancer. Even if it is only for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Exercising will also make you fit against other disease such as heart ailments. Try the exercise activities such as walking, running, aerobics, or yoga. Exercising can also help prevent obesity, which is also one major cause of cancer. Colon, breast, prostrate, endometrial, and lung cancer can have less chances of developing if you are exercising regularly.
3. Genetics – genetics is one of the causes of cancers. When your family has a history of cancer, the best thing to do is just take precaution. If your family has had a history of cancer, the mutated gene which causes cancer may have been passed down. If your family has had a history, you may get a genetic test. Remember that if your family has had a history of cancer it is not certain that you will have it. Your chances of developing it are just greater.
4. Environmental Factors – exposure to certain things within your environment can cause you cancer. Such things like asbestos or benzene can be able to cause cancer.
5. Unsafe Sex – you are suddenly exposed to not only HIV but also HPV. HPV is also known as Human Pappiliona Virus. Having this virus greatly increase a person’s chance of having anal, vulvar, cervical, or vaginal cancer. There are tests that help a person find out if he or she has the HPV virus. You will need to scrape the cervical cells and send them over to a lab.
6. Sun Exposure – greatly exposing yourself to UV rays will cause skin cancer. Be very wise when tanning or being exposed under the sun.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Study: Childhood Cancer Survivors Less Likely to Marry
A recent study suggests that childhood cancer survivors are 20% to 25% less likely to marry compared with their siblings and the general American population. It is suspected that some of the lingering effects of radiation—such as issues with thinking and memory, growth and physical functioning—seemed to cause these lower marriage rates among cancer survivors. Lead researcher Kadan-Lottick stated, “While it can be debated whether marriage is a desirable outcome, marriage is generally an expected developmental goal in our society to the extent that most U.S. adults are married by the age of 30. Our results suggest that survivors of childhood cancer need ongoing support even as they enter adulthood.”
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