Cancer Awareness: April

Continuing with my cancer awareness efforts…

April seems to be a larger month when it comes to cancer (but not nearly as much as September…just wait!) April’s cancers are: Head and Neck Cancers, Testicular Cancer, and Esophageal Cancer.

 Head and Neck Cancer is a broad term to cover any cancers of the head and neck. (Although there is a month to represent Brain Cancer…so that would not be included in the mix.) Specifically, these are cancers of the lip, mouth, nose, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, and larynx. These cancers are represented by the multicolored burgundy and ivory ribbon. The risk of these cancers are associated with tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, UV light, workplace  chemical exposure, and certain strains of viruses (especially HPV – the human papillomavirus.) There are about 35,000 new cases each year in the US. This type of caner is highly treatable if caught early. (With surgery, and/or radiation. Chemo is not very effective in this case.) Symptoms include a mass in the neck, neck pain, mouth bleeding, sinus congestion, bad breath, sore tongue, funny colored patches in the mouth, and more.

 Testicular Cancer is a cancer that develops in the testicles. It is represented by the orchid cancer ribbon. (Who picks these colors? It’s not very “manly”.) About 7500 to 8000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the US. About 1 in 250 males will be diagnosed with this cancer, and it is the most common cancer in males ages 20-39. (It is rarely seen before aged 15, though.) It has one of the highest “cure” rate overall, over 90%. Symptoms include a lump in the testis, dull ache or pain in lower abdomen or scrotum, breast enlargement due to increased hormones, and lower back pain.

 Esophageal Cancer is a cancer in the esophagus. It is represented by the periwinkle ribbon. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, pain, cough, decreased appitite, and more. Risks for this cancer are increased with tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, acid reflux and Barrett’s Esophagus, and heredity (other family with this type or other cancers.) (This has special meaning for me, because my husband suffers from Barrett’s Esophagus, and I worry about it developing into cancer.) HPV, as with Head and Neck Cancer, can also play a role. It is more common in men than women, and generally strikes people over 60. Prognosis, unlike with Testicular Cancer, is very poor, with only 15% surviving past 5 years.

As always, know your body!