The Big "C".

Cancer can be very scary. When you visit the doctor and results come back from lab work or other tests with that diagnosis, most everyone is in shock. September is Health Awareness Month for Childhood, Prostate and Ovarian Cancer. Men, women and children are all at risk to get diagnosed with some form of this dreaded disease.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the United States. Early intervention is key, and preventive screenings play a crucial role. Prostate cancer begins when cells in the prostate gland start to grow out of control, according to the American Cancer Society. The prostate is a gland found only in males. It makes some of the fluid that is part of semen. The prostate is below the bladder (the hollow organ where urine is stored) and in front of the rectum (the last part of the intestines).

Just behind the prostate are glands called seminal vesicles, which make most of the fluid for semen. The urethra, which is the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body through the penis, goes through the center of the prostate.

Symptoms include frequent urination, a weak urine flow, difficulty starting or stopping urination, a burning or painful sensation during urination or ejaculation, sudden erectile dysfunction, and blood in semen or urine. However, some types of prostate cancer don't cause any symptoms. Here is information about prostate cancer:

• Causes

  The exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown, but it's thought to be caused by genetic changes in DNA. Some of these changes can be inherited, while others can occur during a person's lifetime. 

  
  

• Risk factors

  Prostate cancer risk factors include age and family history. The risk increases with age, and about two-thirds of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over 65.

• Treatment

  Treatments include radiation, surgery, and hormone therapy. The type of treatment depends on several factors, including the grade of the cancer. 

  
  

• Survival rates

  The 5-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer is almost 100%, and the 10-year relative survival rate is 98%.

For more information about prostate cancer, visit the ACS website: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/about/what-is-prostate-cancer.html .

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Ovarian cancer often has vague symptoms that are difficult to recognize, especially in the early stages. These symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). Some common symptoms include: 

• Abdominal discomfort: Pain, swelling, or pressure in the abdomen or pelvis 

• Bloating: Persistent bloating, not bloating that comes and goes 

• Urinary frequency: Sudden or frequent urge to urinate 

• Feeling full: Feeling full after eating a small amount of food 

• Changes in bowel movements: Constipation or other changes in bowel movements 

• Abnormal vaginal discharge: Abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding after menopause 

• Weight change: Unexplained weight loss or weight gain 

• Fatigue: Feeling fatigued 

• Lump in the pelvic area: A lump in the pelvic area 

If you experience pain that lingers for more than two weeks and doesn't go away with medication, you should let your doctor know. A pelvic exam can help identify a mass on either side of the uterus. For more information, visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/ovarian-cancer/symptoms/index.html.

The worst situation any parent can face is the possibility of losing a child through some form of cancer or at the very least suffering through the trauma of long term treatment. Children above all are innocent victims of cancer and many don't understand the reason (if there even is one that can be diagnosed) for dealing with it. Cancer treatment puts huge amounts of mental, emotional and physical stress on the entire family, especially for the child who has become ill.

These are words a parent never wants to hear: “Your child has cancer.” While relatively rare, pediatric cancers are the leading cause of death from disease in children between the ages of 1 and 14 years, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. Over the past several decades, the five-year survival rate for pediatric cancer has improved, increasing from 58%-68% in the 1970's to 83%-88% in recent years.

In spite of those advances, approximately 1,600 children and adolescents in the United States die every year of cancer. The most common types of cancers in children are acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors, lymphoma, and neuroblastoma. Taken together, these cancers account for about half of the new cases each year. More information about childhood cancer can be found on the ACCR website: https://www.aacr.org/patients-caregivers/awareness-months/childhood-cancer-awareness-month/.

For families dealing with childhood cancer, there are support groups and organizations that come along side you to help. One of those is Leia's Kids, founded by a friend of mine. Leia Therese Hunt, Leia’s Kids Founder, advocates for childhood cancer awareness through her faith-filled inspirational message, not only to those battling cancer, but to community groups, religious groups, corporations and educational institutions. Learn how your child can get much needed help: https://leiaskids.org/.

According to the National Cancer Institute, there are many types of cancer treatment. The types of treatment that you receive will depend on the type of cancer you have and how advanced it is. Some people with cancer will have only one treatment. But most people have a combination of treatments, such as surgery with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

When you need treatment for cancer, you have a lot to learn and think about. It is normal to feel overwhelmed and confused. But, talking with your doctor and learning about the types of treatment you may have can help you feel more in control. Read more about how cancer treatment can help if you or a loved one has been diagnosed: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types.

One significant issue with any cancer diagnosis is how to deal with the financial impact when a diagnosis is made. There are in addition to the medical costs, all the extra expenses that come along with dealing with it, such as travel, additional costs for care, and much more. Cancer insurance is one way to help cover the costs related to going through the treatment and follow up. Here is a shopper's guide published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners: https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-cax-pp-consumer-cancer.pdf.

As an independent health and life agent, I can assist you with purchasing affordable coverage with this type of product that is available to most everyone who is not already diagnosed with cancer or who has had it in the recent past. Cancer insurance should be owned by every family, and is relatively inexpensive. Plus, it pays you on initial diagnosis when you need that extra money to offset expenses related to cancer.

Statistically 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women are going to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Are you financially able to handle those extra costs that health insurance does not cover? Contact me for a conversation about getting coverage. Also, you can visit this website for more information: https://www.careingdentalgroup.com/senior-health-and-wellness.

Let's beat this thing called Cancer!