A couple of centuries ago, cancer used to be such a rare disease. It was quite difficult to diagnose and have left so many doctors baffled as they try to understand how normal body cells grow out of control and develop into cancer. Nowadays, however, it has become somewhat like a normal condition.
Ask anyone around you and you’ll get pretty much the same answer. Chances are, they have at least one member suffering from a type of cancer or have a loved one who has succumbed to it. This is why more and more people are on the lookout for both conventional and alternative cancer treatments that would save them from the disease once they are diagnosed with it.
Nevertheless, it is important to prevent the disease while you still can. Some people forget that cancer is not something that appears out of thin air. It is actually something that progressively develops—a group of rogue cells causing the destruction of surrounding tissues—and then starts to spread towards other areas of the human body, causing discomfort, inconvenience, and at times, extreme pain.
Losing someone to a disease that could have been prevented is just too painful for anyone to bear. So if you’re bent on reaching a hundred years of age, then one of things you must do is watch over your health. The good thing about health is that it once you start caring for your mind and body in order to prevent a particular disease, most often than not, it also helps you fight the chances of developing other conditions.
So if you want to fight cancer before it even shows up, here’s a useful checklist that can help prevent the disease.
Cancer Checklist for Women
What you Should Know
There are so many types of cancers, but different types affect different people. Women, for example, are prone to developing what is commonly known as “Silent Killers”, specific types of cancers that are particularly hard to detect. In the What to Look For section below, you will find a list of the warning signs that warrants the need to schedule an appointment with a physician.
Keep an eye out for these symptoms and stay alert, as it will be your best defensive strategy next to following a healthy diet and active lifestyle. Steering clear of smoking and heavy drinking can also help significantly. If in the event that you find out that you are indeed exhibiting many of the symptoms indicated below, then you should schedule a visit with your doctor as soon as possible. When taking care of your health, being proactive is crucial. you don’t want to be diagnosed with cancer and considering holistic treatments for cancer when you could have avoided it in the first place.
What to Look Out For: The Silent Killers
Ovarian Cancer – With this type of cancer, cancerous cells are discovered in the ovarian tissues. The ovary is a very small reproductive organ exclusive only to women and is almost the same size of an almond. It is located in the lower abdomen and is responsible for creating and storing eggs.
The cancer-causing cells are usually created when a process that creates new cells goes haywire, causing these cancerous cells to grow and create a tumor. Tumors can either be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
Look out for the following warning signs:
- You suddenly feel full even when you’ve barely started eating
- There is unusual bloating
- You experience constant abdominal pain
- Pelvic pain that does not go away
- There is an urgent and frequent need to urinate
Here are the risk factors for this particular type:
- Age
- Obesity
- Family History
- Reproductive History
- History of Undergoing Gynecological Surgery
Pancreatic Cancer – Because the pancreas is in such close proximity to other organs in the upper part of the abdomen, its symptoms are very vague and can be mistaken as symptoms of other conditions associated with the abdomen or the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The cancer occurs when abnormal cells start to grow uncontrollably, creating tumors inside the organ, most specifically the pancreatic ducts. This disease is responsible for claiming close to 40,000 deaths in the United States each year.
If you are suffering from any of the following symptoms below, don’t delay in seeing a trusted doctor.
- There is pain in the upper abdomen, usually radiating towards the back
- You have jaundice
- Your stool contains unusual amounts of fatty substance or it is pale-colored
- Dark-colored urine
- Unexplained weight loss
- Nausea
Your chances of getting this particular disease is determined by the following factors:
- Age
- Gender
- You are African American or have African American roots
- Smoking
- Have Chronic Pancreatitis
- Genetics
Read the next part of this multi-part blog to find out more about various types of cancer, risk factors, and what measures you can take for prevention and early detection.
