Cancer Awareness!

Cancer is a broad group of various diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells grow uncontrollably, forming nasty tumours and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream. However not all tumours are cancerous.

Nobody expects you to know every little detail about every cancer, but knowing the key symptoms of common cancers can make a HUGE difference.

Changes in the body are the best indicator of something not being right. The best way of knowing is whether you feel 'normal' compared to what someone is used to. Some of the symptoms of common cancers are:

• A persistent cough which lasts for longer than 3 weeks
• A change in bowel movements that last for longer than 4 to 6 weeks
• Any unusual lumps
• Difficulty in passing urine
• Unexplained weight loss
• Changes to moles or freckles
• A white or red patch in the mouth which doesn't heal within 3 weeks
• Unexplained pain
• Feeling tired all the time

Types of cancers:

BLADDER CANCER is the 7th most common cancer in the UK, with more than 10,000 people in the UK diagnosed each year. It is the 4th most common cancer for men and the 11th most common for women. It takes a long time to develop and is the most prevelant in older people. Most bladder cancers develop on the inner layer of the bladder, although some can grow into the deeper layers. How far the cancer has spread into the layers will influence its severity and how it is treated. The 2 biggest risk factors for bladder cancer is smoking. The most effective way of reducing the risk of bladder cancer is to give up smoking. You can also prevent it by eating a healthy diet, not drinking more than the recommended daily alcohol limits (3-4 units for men, and 2-3 units for women), and taking regular exercise.

BOWEL CANCER is the 3rd most common type of cancer with around 40,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It is the 3rd most common cancer for women and the 3rd most common cancer for men. A strong family history of bowel cancer can increase your own risk. The symptoms of bowel cancer are unexplained changes in bowel habits such as diarrhoea or constipation, blood in your faeces/poo, pains in your stomach or rectum or unexplained weight loss. The preventions for bowel cancer is to keep track of your bowel movements, eating a healthy diet, no drinking more than the recommended daily alhohol limits (3-4 units for men, and 2-3 units for women), taking regular exercise and to give up smoking.

BREAST CANCER is an extremely common cancer. In the UK about 46,000 women  are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and 8 out of 10 of these women are aged over 50. Breast cancer is the name given to a maligant tumour that has developed from cells which are housed without the breast. If you have family relatives who have had breast cancer then you may have a higher risk of developing it. The most common symptoms of breast cancer are: a change in the size or shape of the breast, dimpling of the skin of the breast, thickening in the tissue of the breast, swelling or lump in the armpit, a rash in the breast area or lump or thickening behind the nipple. Possible ways of preventing breast cancer are: to replace animal fats with polyunsaturated fats, eat more isoflavones, eat more fibre, make sure you have enough calcium in your diet and to eat foods with high carotenoids.

CERVICAL CANCER is a relatively rare type of cancer. In the UK around 2800 women are diagnosed with it each year. Cervical cancers form in the tissues of the cervix or neck of the womb. There are certain factors that can increase the rick of developing cervical cancer, they are: unprotected sex, a weakening immune system, smoking, taking the Pill could increase a womans risk of cervical cancer and women who have had a large amount of children. The preventions of cervical cancer are to consider having a HPV vaccination and to quit smoking.

LUNG CANCER is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. Cases are rare in people under the age of 40, the most common age of diagnosis is people aged 70-74. People who smoke put themselves at a higher risk of lumg cancer. The common symptoms of lung cancer are: a continuing cough usually for 3 weeks or more, a chest infection that does not get better, increasing breathlessness, a dull ache or a sharp pain when you cough or take a depe breath, loss of appetite, loss of weight, difficulty swallowing or excessive tiredness and lethargy. The prevention of lung cancer is to stop smoking.

PROSTATE CANCER is a walnut sized gland found only in men. 30,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually and around 10,000 men die from prostate cancer each year making it the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men. Prostate cancer can grow slowly and may never cause any problems or issues. Black men are more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men. The symptoms of prostate cancer are: having to rush to the toilet to pass urine, difficulty in passing urine, pain in passing urine, passing urine more than usual and blood in the urine. You can prevent prostate cancer by going on a diet and to reduce your intake of animal fat.

SKIN CANCER. There are 2 main types of skin cancer, Malignant melanoma which is less common but more serious and non-melanoma skin cancer which is very common but not as serious. Having a family history of melanoma doubles the risk. Also fair skinned people with light coloured hair and eyes or those who are more likely to burn are more at risk of skin cancer. The preventions of skin cancer are: to not expose yourself to much to the sun, apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going out in the sun, re-apply sunscreen to children more often, ever use a sun bed and to cover up with loose fitting clothes on sunny days.

Ther are over 200 different types of cancers so if you think you are showing signs of any of the symptoms then go and talk to your GP/doctor about it. Don't leave it too late! Its better to be safe than sorry...