Get Educated About Cancer
Get Educated About Cancer
Chances are, cancer has touched you in one way or another. The horrible condition is the second-leading cause of death in the world, however survival rates are gradually increasing due to improvements in cancer screening and treatment. Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells dividing uncontrollably and with the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal bodily tissue.
Symptoms
There are many different symptoms which could point to a potential onset of cancer including:
- Fatigue
- Lump or area of thickening which can be felt under skin
- Weight changes, such as unintended weight gain or loss
- Skin changes, such as yellowing, darkening or redness of the skin, and sores that either don’t heal or change into moles
- Changes in bowel or bladder habits
- Persistent cough or trouble breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hoarseness
- Persistent indigestion or discomfort after eating
- Persistent, unexplained muscle or joint pain
- Persistent, unexplained fevers or night sweats
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
When to Visit a Doctor
If you are experiencing one or multiple of these symptoms, it is recommended that you book an appointment with a doctor, even just to be cautious. If you don’t have any signs or symptoms, you can still make an appointment to see a doctor and discuss any concerns you may have, as well as find next steps to run the appropriate screening test for yourself.
Prevention
There’s no certain way of preventing cancer, although there are several methods to reduce your risk including:
- Stop smoking
- Avoid excessive sun exposure
- Eat a healthy diet
- Exercise most days of the week
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Drink alcohol in moderation
- Schedule cancer screening exams
- Ask your doctor about immunizations
Risks
Diagnosing cancer at its earliest stages often provides the best chance for a cure, it is recommended to talk to your doctor about which types of cancer screening may be appropriate for you. There are several risk factors involved with cancer, and the majority of cancer cases occur in people who don’t have any known risk factors. Other factors can include:
- Age. Cancer can sometimes take decades to develop, often resulting in people above the age of 65 getting diagnosed.
- Habits. Certain lifestyle choices are known to increase your risk of cancer including smoking, drinking multiple alcoholic beverages per day, excessive sun exposure, obesity, or unsafe sex.
- Family history. A very small portion of cancers are due to an inherited condition, however it is possible that mutations are being passed from one generation to the next in genes. Keep in mind that having an inherited genetic mutation does not necessarily mean you have cancer.
- Health conditions. Some chronic health conditions such as ulcerative colitis can significantly increase your risk of cancer.
Cancer is very real. Nobody is immune to the illness, and you can never be too safe in your own prevention of cancer. Please be safe and monitor any symptoms you may have as well as making the correct choices to reduce your risk whenever possible.
Speak to your medical professional or pharmacist for more information.
The material in this blog was sourced from: mayoclinic.org; travel.gc.ca; cdc.gov/travel. It is intended for information purposes only and should not be used in place of consultation with a healthcare professional. Participating retailers/pharmacies, vendors, and/or agencies are not responsible for errors, omissions, or inconsistencies with respect to the information contained in this flyer and do not accept liability whatsoever for reliance by the reader on the information contained herein.