|
|
|
|
What You Can Do To Protect Yourself Against Cancer
WOMEN
Breast cancer is one of the leading cancer killers of women and 1 in 9 will get it. More than 46,000 die yearly. Women are more likely to get cancer if they are over age 50, have other family members with breast cancer, have never had children, or who were over 30 when they had their first child. The good news is that nearly 9 out of 10 women survive it. You should check your breasts monthly and if you are:
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of women. Approximately 56,000 women die each year and cigarette smokers are much more likely to get it. More than 40,000 women wouldn't have to die of lung cancer each year - if they just didn't smoke. If you quit early enough, most damage from smoking will heal. Don't smoke and stay away from people who are smoking . You should see a doctor if you have a nagging or painful cough that doesn't go away, if you cough up blood, or if your chest hurts all the time.
Uterine cancer can strike women at any age and 44,500 new cases are reported each year. Fewer women die from cancer of the uterus each year-because they have regular Pap tests and pelvic examinations. The Pap test detects signs of cervical cancer early, usually in time to treat it. You should have a Pap test every year if you are over 18 and sexually active. The risk factors for uterine cancer include being over 40 years of age, being overweight, taking hormones, abnormal bleeding, infertility, or not ovulating. You should see a doctor if you have abnormal bleeding or have reached menopause and are overweight.
MEN
Over 35,000 men die each year from prostate cancer. 9 out of 10 men who find out in time live at least another 5 years. If you are over age 40, you should have a digital rectal exam every year. If over 50 years of age, you should have a prostate specific antigen blood test every year. Men over age 65 are most likely to get prostate cancer. See a doctor if you have painful urination, blood in your urine, or the inability to urinate. This cancer affects the male reproductive organs and is most likely to strike men aged
15-34. Once a month you should do a self exam on your testes. See a doctor if you find a painless swelling, have a feeling of heaviness, find a hard lump the size of a pea, or have been told that your testicles never descended.
Lung cancer kills more men than any other cancer- approximately 100,000 die every year. 9 out of 10 men who die from lung cancer smoke cigarettes. 3 out of 4 men who get any kind of cancer smoke cigarettes. A chest x-ray won't always warn you in time. The good news is that if you quit early enough, most damage from smoking will heal. Not smoking helps to prevent many diseases, not just lung cancer. You should see a doctor if you have a nagging or painful cough that doesn't go away, if you cough up blood, or if your chest hurts all the time.
More than 4,000 men die each year from melanoma, a serious skin cancer. Men with light skin are more likely to get it. The good news is that most skin cancers can be cured. In order to stay alert you should follow these guidelines:
You should see a doctor if a birthmark, mole, or other spot on your skin starts to change.