Cancer Awareness: February

As we move into February, we hit National Cancer Prevention Month. It kind of ties in with my local Relay For Life’s theme for 2014: “Cancer of Many Colors”. We need to stop focusing on just pink, and realize that breast cancer is not the only cancer.

Prevention covers lots of things. Sure, for breast cancer, women need to get their yearly mammograms when they hit 50 (newest guideline recommended age) and do self exams monthly. For cervical cancer, you need your yearly ob/gyn appointments and pap smears. Get your daughters vaccinated for HPV as soon as possible after turning 9. If you have a family history of colon cancer, get regular colonoscopies. If you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, get genetic screening for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. But prevention also includes various lifestyle changes. If you a smoker, quit. Even if you’ve smoked for years, stopping can lessen your chances of getting lung cancer. Same thing for those who chew tobacco, quit as soon as possible. Limit alcohol usage.  Start eating healthier. Little things you do can have a big impact on preventing cancer.

February also puts the spotlight on gallbladder and bile duct cancers.

Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancers are pretty rare and occur in the gallbladder and nearby bile ducts. They are represented by the kelly green ribbon. Symptoms include abdominal pain, jaundice, and vomiting. Cases seem to be more common in certain areas of the world. (Cental and South America, Central and Eastern Europe, Japan, and Northern India.) It also seems to be more common among Native American and Hispanic ethnic groups. It is twice more common in women than men. Obesity is another risk factor. About 10,000 new cases are diagnosed in the US yearly, and about 3000 die per year.

As always, know your body!