Cancer
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Breast Cancer
There are as many as 200,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed every year. It is the most common type of cancer among Canadian women, and it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. While there’s no easy answer when it comes to avoiding breast cancer all together, there are certain precautions you can take to mitigate your risk – and that first means knowing what those risk factors are. Among the two highest risk factors for breast cancer are age and gender. While breast cancer can occur in individuals of all ages, as well as affect men, incidences of breast cancer below the age of 40 are considerably…
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Understanding Cancer
At the end of last year, an estimated 225,000 Canadians were diagnosed with cancer, while there were an estimated 19 million new cases diagnosed worldwide – with an estimated 10 million people dying from cancer each year, making it the second-leading cause of death. Cancer occurs when the normal cells in our bodies change and lead to uncontrolled and abnormal growth of tumours, which can also potentially spread to other areas of the body if not caught early enough or if left untreated. Divided into three groups, tumours can be: • Benign • Malignant • Precancerous/Premalignant When a tumour is benign, it is not considered to be cancerous and usually…
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Lung Cancer Awareness
More than 28,000 Canadians are diagnosed with lung cancer each year. Of those 28,000 individuals, nearly 4,000 of them are located right here in British Columbia. Lung cancer is defined as the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs; and while there is a well-established association between lung cancer and tobacco use, it can also, surprisingly, affect life-long non-smokers. This article takes an in-depth look at the function of the lungs, the symptoms that are associated with lung cancer, the different causes and risk factors, as well as the treatment options that are used. When you’re breathing, this means that your lungs are functioning. The main role…
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Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors and Symptoms
Pancreatic cancer is considered to be among the most common types of cancer that one can be diagnosed with. However, it is also often referred to as the “silent killer” due it to having little to no symptoms until the cancer has reached a much later stage; or, the symptoms will be quite vague and can often mimic other health conditions. As you may have heard, Canadian celebrity and ‘Jeopardy’ host Alex Trebek recently announced that he’d been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This announcement has not only helped open the dialogue on the deadly disease but is also helping to raise awareness. In Canada, an estimated 5,000 individuals are diagnosed…
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Obesity-Related Cancers on the Rise
Obesity-related cancers are on the rise in younger adults, this according to findings of a study that was conducted by The American Cancer Society and recently published in The Lancet Public Health. The study, which looked at millions of health records and examined data between 1995 and 2014, found that the rates of 6 out of 12 obesity-related cancers increased dramatically in millennials – particularly those in their 20s and 30s. The most common cancers linked to obesity, according to this study, included colorectal cancer, uterine cancer, gallbladder cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, and a type of blood cancer known as multiple myeloma. While these cancers were also found to…
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What is Hepatoblastoma?
While rare (affecting only 2 to 3 per one million individuals), hepatoblastoma is considered to be one of the more common forms of liver cancer that impacts children. In 2016, Canadian singer Michael Buble’s then 3-year-old son was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, sparking an increase in conversation surrounding the disease. Hepatoblastoma is a cancerous tumour that starts in the liver and typically presents as a painful abdominal mass. In comparison to hepatocellular carcinoma (also known as HHC), which is more common in adults, hepatoblastoma tends to be diagnosed in children under the age of 3 and is more commonly seen in infancy as well as in a high percentage of children…
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Living With Cancer
If you or your loved ones have ever been diagnosed with cancer, you know what a shock that can be. You’re often left with more questions than answers and will feel like you won’t know what to expect moving forward. Getting a cancer diagnosis can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety, and it can have a huge impact on how a person lives their day to day lives, as well as with other priorities such as school, work, finances, and personal relationships. The emotions associated with a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, which is why it’s so important for cancer patients, their friends and family to find healthy…
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Pancreatic Cancer Awareness
November marks Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, while November 15th is World Pancreatic Cancer Day – initiatives that were designed to raise awareness surrounding pancreatic cancer; a condition that affects as many as 5,000 Canadians each year and over 330,000 people on a global scale. Because it is one of the toughest cancers to fight, organizations like Pancreatic Cancer Canada and Pancreatic Cancer Action are dedicated to saving lives and attacking this deadly illness through not just awareness, but also with research, community support, advocacy – and, perhaps most importantly, early detection. So, what is the pancreas, exactly? It’s a six-inch-long, pear-shaped glandular organ that is located in the upper abdomen…
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Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Lung cancer is considered the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Last year, an estimated 28,600 Canadians were diagnosed with lung cancer – with over 21,000 dying from the deadly disease. On average, an estimated 78 Canadians are diagnosed with lung cancer each day. To raise awareness surrounding the many challenges that can come from a life-altering diagnosis such as lung cancer, as well as to provide support for individuals, their families and caregivers, November is recognized as Lung Cancer Awareness Month. As part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, communities will often hold special events and fundraisers, with money raised going toward continued cancer research. There are two different types…
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World Blood Cancer Day
In Canada, there are thousands of people that are either living with or in remission from blood cancer. There are as many as 137 types of blood cancers and blood disorders that one can be diagnosed with, including but not limited to: Leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Myeloma, as well as other blood cancers that are considered less common – such as myeloproliferative neoplasms and myelodysplastic syndromes – and they are the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in Canadian men, and the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related death in Canadian women. Leukemia As mentioned, leukemia is one of the more common types of blood cancer, with over 22,000 Canadians either living…