Here’s a compilation of our Cancer Awareness Series, just in case you missed it on our Instagram feed. Bidding this November goodbye, we hope that you learn as much as we did, through this process.
Prostate Cancer
A prostate is an organ, which produces the seminal fluid that nourishes & transports sperm.
Prostate cancer is extremely common worldwide and is the second most common cancer in Indian Males (Indian Council of Medical Research). The incidence rate in India is 9-10/100,000, which is higher than other parts of Asia & Africa but lower than USA & Europe.
Risk factors may include age, obesity, as well as family history. Symptoms include difficulty with urination in terms of frequency, urgency or hesitancy, etc. However, other less common symptoms can be blood in urine/semen, impotence, bone pain in back, hips or ribs and loss of bladder control, but sometimes there are no symptoms at all.
Doctors recommend screenings for prostate cancer every year after the age of 40. Some government hospitals like RML, AIIMS & Safdurjung in Delhi provide free testing. You can enquire at your local government hospitals to know more.
Testicular cancer
Testicular Cancer originates in the male reproductive organ (Testicle) & is rare with a development risk of just about 0.4%. It is mostly likely to occur when bio-males are most fertile. The occurrence pattern follows three peaks in their lifetime, namely,
– Infancy
– 25-40 years
– After 60 years.
Risk factors may include undescended testicle, age, family history as well as abnormal testicle development. Symptoms include a lump in either testicle & a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
It can boast a 90% cure rate. Furthermore, the cure rate can be 100%, if it has not spread throughout the body (metastasized). This is one of the highest cure rates of all types of cancer. It is adviced to conduct regular self-examinations at home, and consult a specialist for queries.
Cervical Cancer
Cervical Cancer is a malignant tumour of the lower-most part of the uterus (womb).
It is most commonly known to be caused by HPV (Human Papillomavirus). However, HPV may or may not lead to development of the cancer.
Women aged 20 onwards are at risk, with chances increasing based on age, family history, HPV, immune system deficiency, smoking, etc. Symptoms include bleeding in between periods or after sex or menopause, etc. In some cases there may be no symptoms.
It can be prevented by regular PAP smear tests and a HPV vaccine and can often be successfully treated if found early. We’d suggest that you go for a checkup regularly & don’t forget to ask your gynaecologist about preventive options most suitable for you.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. It can occur in women and rarely in men.
Risk Factors include age, obesity, family or personal history of breast cancer, early periods (before age 12) or late menopause (prior to age 55), etc. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, fluid from the nipple, etc. It is of various types & accordingly, spreads differently. It is treatable, if found early.
Latest research suggests that women treated for early stage breast cancer still face a substantial risk of recurrence up to 20 years later. Doctors recommend regular self- examinations at home, and consult a specialist with further queries.
