Wellness Words June 2018 Posted on June 14, 2018 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Alicia DeRuscio, B.S.Community Education Assistant Men’s Health: Prostate & Bladder CancerThe National Cancer Institute estimates that men in the United States will face 856,370 new cases of cancer in 2018. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), two of the top five most common forms of cancer that affect men include prostate cancer and bladder cancer.  Prostate CancerAside from skin cancer, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) classifies prostate cancer as the most common cancer among men. Prostate cancer occurs when cells within the prostate gland, a gland only found in men, begin to grow uncontrollably.  Researchers from ACS do not know the exact cause of prostate cancer, but they do know that it begins when there are changes to the DNA of a normal prostate cell.  These changes can occur during a person’s lifetime or can be passed on from generation to generation.  In order to protect yourself, it’s important to know the risk factors of prostate cancer and the steps you can take to lower your risk. Certain risk factors, including age, family history, and race can increase the likelihood of developing prostate cancer. While prostate cancer can occur at any time, the CDC states that the risk for developing prostate cancer increases as men get older; most cases occur in men over the age of 65.  Family history can also affect a man’s chances of developing prostate cancer. According to the CDC, if a man has a father, brother, or son who currently has or had prostate cancer in the past, they are two to three times more likely to also develop the disease.  For reasons unknown, prostate cancer more commonly occurs in African American men than any other race.There is no specific way to prevent prostate cancer, but there are certain preventative steps men can take to lower their risk of developing it. ACS recommends maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, and eating a balanced diet. This means getting at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity and 2 days of strength training activities each week, as well as eating 2 ½ cups of fruits and vegetables every day. Bladder CancerHarvard Health classifies bladder cancer as the fourth most common, lethal internal disease in American men, and one of the top ten deadliest cancers. According to ACS, bladder cancer occurs when cells in the urinary bladder grow uncontrollably.  As the cancer cells continue to develop, tumors may form and the cancer may spread to other areas of the body.  There are several layers within the bladder, all made up of different types of cells.  ACS believes that most bladder cancers begin in the innermost lining of the bladder, and then continue to spread to the outer layers.There are a number of risk factors that affect a person’s likelihood of developing bladder cancer. According to the CDC, these risk factors include smoking, exposure to chemicals in the workplace, and not drinking enough fluids. Smoking is the biggest risk factor of developing bladder cancer.  ACS deems smokers three times more likely to develop bladder cancer than nonsmokers.  If you smoke, talk to your healthcare provider about quitting.Exposure to certain chemicals has also been linked to developing bladder cancer. Workers in the rubber, leather, textiles, or painting industries are at an increased risk for bladder cancer, as well as machinists, printers, hair dressers, and truck drivers.  Lastly, those who don’t drink enough fluids each day, especially water, tend to have higher rates of bladder cancer.  ACS believes this may be due to the fact that those that drink more often empty their bladders more frequently, which prevents chemicals from lingering in the bladder.Like prostate cancer, there is no specific way to prevent bladder cancer, but there are steps you can take to lower your risk. ACS recommends not smoking, limiting your exposure to chemicals in the workplace, following proper safety precautions if you work in an industry that may expose you to chemicals, drinking plenty of fluids, and eating lots of fruits and vegetables. Studies have suggested that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help protect against bladder cancer.There is no guarantee to preventing cancer, but the best defense is to take control of your health. To best decrease your chances of developing cancer, the ACS suggests:Maintaining a healthy weightGetting regular physical activityAvoiding all forms of tobaccoLimiting alcohol intakeProtecting your skinKnowing yourself, your family history and your risksVisiting your healthcare provider regularly and getting screened for cancerFor more information on men’s health, talk your healthcare provider, or call HealthLink Littauer at 518-736-1120. You can email us at healthlink@nlh.org or visit our wellness center on 2 Colonial Court in downtown Johnstown. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Wellness Words April 2015 Posted on April 14, 2015 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Wendy Chirieleison, MS EdCommunity Health EducatorEarly Detection Is Key To Minimizing Effects Of CancerThere are more than 100 types of cancer that can develop throughout the body, which grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. But, they all have one thing in common.  All cancers start due to a rapid growth of abnormal cells.  Cancer that is untreated can cause serious illness or even death.Knowing the signs and symptoms, and getting screened regularly is essential to the early detection of cancer.  This is important because treatments work best on cancer when it is detected early, and it helps prevent the spreading of cancer to other areas of the body.  Additionally, there are specific things that you can do to help you prevent cancer.SIGNS & SYMPTOMSSigns and symptoms are signals that the body is going through something like an injury, illness, or disease.  Signs are signals that can be seen such as a fever, fast breathing, or a rash.  A symptom is a signal that can only be felt by the person who has it such as a loss of appetite, fatigue, or achiness.According to the American Cancer Society, there are five general signs and symptoms of cancer.  Having one or more of these warning signs does not mean that you have caner, but you should definitely speak with your doctor about any concerns that you have, or if you are experiencing any of the following – an unexplained weight loss of ten pounds or more, a fever, fatigue (or extreme tiredness that does not get better with rest), changes in skin texture (color or sensation), and lastly – pain can be a symptom of certain types of cancer.In addition to these general signs and symptoms of cancer, there are other common signs and symptoms that are associated with certain types of cancer.  They are a change in bowel habits or bladder function, sores that do not heal, white spots in the mouth or on the tongue, unusual bleeding or discharge, thickening of the skin or lump, indigestion or trouble swallowing, any new skin changes (including a new or changed mole or wart), a nagging cough or hoarseness.  Remember that having one or more of these symptoms does not mean that you definitely have cancer.  Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any of these signs and symptoms.GET SCREENED REGULARLYEarly detection offers the best results in treating and minimizing the spread of cancer.  There are many types of tests and procedures for men and women that are recommended throughout each stage of life that can detect different types of cancers.  Talk to your doctor to learn which tests and procedures are the best for you.Some of the test preps, and tests themselves, may be difficult but – are much better than their alternative.  If you are squeamish or nervous about testing, ask your spouse (or a relative or friend) to go with you, ask if you are able to bring relaxing music to listen to, use visualization or deep breathing (or other stress reducing strategies), or bring something with you to focus on that will distract you.HELP PREVENT CANCERDo not use tobacco products…if you need help quitting, call the NYS Smokers Quitline at 1-866-697-8487.Maintain a healthy weight.Keep moving with regular physical activity.Eat healthy by including plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet.Limit your intake of alcohol.Wear sunscreen every day…use a facial moisturizer that contains SPF.Wear a hat, sunglasses, or long sleeves and re-apply sunscreen during prolonged time outdoors.Know your family’s medical history and share this information with your health care provider.For more information, visit cancer.org, contact your healthcare provider or HealthLink Littauer at 736-1120. You can e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, see our website at nlh.org, or visit our NEW wellness center at 2 Colonial Court in downtown Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
