Every year, an estimated 3,400 children in the United States are diagnosed with a brain tumor or brain cancer. Approximately one third of these children will survive no more than five years, making brain and spinal cord tumors the deadliest of all childhood cancers.
These kinds of tumors are considered to be the toughest childhood cancers to treat successfully due to several factors, including:
1. Their precise cause is unknown; 2. There are many different kinds of children’s brain and spinal cord tumors; 3. Because the disease is rare and tissue samples of tumors are small, it takes time to test and validate new treatment options; 4. Doctors and researchers are dealing with a growing child’s brain and body, so they must first ensure they avoid harming the child; and 5. Funds for research and treatment options are limited, due to the relatively low rate of incidence, compared to other childhood cancers and diseases.
Today, across America…
Nine families will learn their child has a brain or spinal cord tumor; A mother will grieve that her instincts about her child’s health were right; A father will allow himself to cry, but only alone in the shower; A six-year old child may try to grapple with her mortality.
Three families across America will mourn the loss of their child to a brain or spinal cord tumor. Friends, family and community will try to make sense of an untimely death and the unfulfilled promise of a life. At the same time, these same friends, family and community will join to celebrate the joy a child’s life brought to them, albeit brief and difficult.
There is hope for these children, as the survival rate has increased significantly over the past twenty years, with approximately 25,000 survivors living in the U.S. today. However, “survivorship” for children with brain or spinal cord tumors isn’t as bright as the survivorship that is celebrated with some other cancers. Two-thirds of those afflicted will suffer late effects such as cognitive damage, physical challenges and social isolation. In addition, measures such as unemployment are much more dismal among pediatric brain tumor survivors than among other pediatric cancer survivors.
Families facing this dreadful disease need help. They need resources for education, services, networking, and just plain emotional support. There are several non-profit organizations, such as the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation that offer programs and assistance to these families in a variety of ways.
In addition, these organizations are tireless in their efforts to secure funding in support of ongoing research of the causes, treatment options, and possible cures of these deadly killers. A quick Internet search can offer up a plethora of resources that will fit the needs of almost every family traveling down this very difficult path.
While significant progress has been made in the areas of research, diagnosis and treatment, much more work remains to be done. Awareness is the first giant step in the right direction. From awareness comes education, and from education comes research, donations, and hopefully, someday – a cure.
Posts tagged ‘Awareness’
Exposure to the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays can prematurely age the skin and cause skin cancer. To remind sun lovers of the potential dangers, May has been declared the national Sun Protection & Skin Cancer Awareness Month. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than two million people diagnosed annually. These figures beat the combined incidence of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers. To put it in perspective, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. And 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
Premature aging also is an issue for many, particularly women.
“Everyone wants that beautiful, bronzed look for summer, but few respect that the long-term consequences far outweigh the short-term benefits of a great tan,” says Dr. Roberto Garcia of Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery and Reviva Medical Spa near Jacksonville, FL. “We see patients every day who are looking for ways to correct the damage done to their skin over years of sun exposure.”
For those who already have sun damaged skin, procedures such as chemical peels can help restore a smooth, youthful appearance. And there are many ways to protect skin from sun damage, including wearing a high SPF sun block and moisturizing skin daily, wearing wide-brimmed hats and sun glasses, and seeking out shady spots to enjoy the fresh air. But none of this means that you have to forego that sun-kissed look, Dr. Garcia says. Reviva Medical Spa offers SunFX Spray Tanning, a revolutionary spray tanning system that uses a low-pressure spray to deliver an all-natural tanning solution evenly over the body and face.
“Living in a coastal town, people want that healthy glow to their skin,” Dr. Garcia says. “SunFX spray tanning can help them achieve that look without subjecting their skin to the dangers of sun exposure.”
For more sun-savvy ways to protect and correct your skin, contact Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery at 904-247-8522 and Reviva Medical Spa at 904-694-0091.
The Breast cancer awareness is the programme to inculcate the knowledge of breast cancer in common man which in turn can decrease the fear of cancer. They are also educated on the symptoms and the treatment for the disease. The symbol for breast cancer awareness is the Pink ribbon. The month of October is considered as the month of National Breast Cancer Awareness. The first awareness bracelet in pink color was brought out in 1996.
The main aim of the breast cancer awareness bracelets is to have a place without breast cancer. The more the awareness is created the number of people suffering from breast cancer shall survive. There are wristbands made of sporty, stretchy silicone bands. It is not only women who are prone to breast cancer; even men can develop breast cancer. There are rare cases of breast cancer in men, but it is possible. Pink and Blue bracelets are available to increase the awareness of breast cancer in men. These bracelets are handmade which has silver and pink and blue crystals.
Another type of Breast cancer awareness bracelets available is in glittering pink stones with pink enamel ribbons. There are Turkish beads bracelets available which spread awareness of Breast cancer. Pink being the most chosen color for breast cancer awareness, the beads is made of polymer clay with 6mm silver plated beads. This bracelet is the favorite of small girls, teenagers and ladies. Bracelets are made from freshwater pearls which has an addition of pink crystals and silver plated beads. There are bracelets with messages engraved on it like ‘Life’, ‘Find a Cure’ and ‘Believe’; these bracelets are in heart shape with various messages for the common man.
Earlier the bracelets used to come in pink color but nowadays there are varieties of bracelets available with messages embossed on it providing more awareness on the breast cancer. These bracelets also work as jewelry as they are made from pearls, silver, cat’s eye etc. The proceeds from the sale of these bracelets have given a helping hand to many people. The trust selling these bracelets uses this money for providing free mammogram, first aid treatments to the patients who cannot afford the treatment. The costs of these bracelets are very affordable to the common man. Besides bracelets; wristbands are also available. They are also targeted to give awareness to the people on prevention of breast cancer. The more you spread the awareness; the lesser the disease shall spread.
We live in a time where cancer is very prevalent, even with advances in medical technology, millions die from some form of cancer each year. Many forms of cancer can be nearly unavoidable due to genetics; however there are some forms of cancer that are caused by our day by day activities and can be avoided. Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma are both really good examples of the latter; smoking has been linked to being one of the major causes to lung cancer, where Mesothelioma is caused solely due to exposure to Mesothelioma.
Generally when we look to spread Cancer Awareness, we spread awareness about Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, and just the general umbrella of cancer. While over 200,000 cases of lung cancer and over 175,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year, about only 3,000 cases of Mesothelioma are diagnosed each year. Though Mesothelioma may not have the mainstream media eyes or the number of victims that Breast Cancer and Lung Cancer claims, it is still important that we spread awareness of Mesothelioma and the dangerous fibers that cause it: Asbestos.
Much like smoking, the use of asbestos in products and construction wasn’t thought to have deadly side effects, however also like smoking time has shown that there is a deadly side effect of asbestos. Asbestos has been the sole link to the incurable Mesothelioma cancer that generally claims the lives of elder males. There are many issues that make Mesothelioma such a deadly cancer, notably the latency period that occurs between the time the victim was exposed to asbestos and when they see symptoms of Mesothelioma. Typically the Mesothelioma latency period is between 30-40 years, but can also be between 10 and 60 years after the victim was exposed to Mesothelioma. The latency period typically causes symptoms of Mesothelioma to not appear until the late stages of the cancer, making the cancer untreatable, and limiting the lifespan of its victims to an average of 4-18 months after diagnoses.
It’s important that we raise awareness for this cancer as Asbestos is still in use today in the United States. Every day countless people work products that can have asbestos making up as much as 70% of the product, while the government and court system know the dangers Asbestos has. Though an ideal replacement has not been found for Asbestos, there are many suitable substitutes that can be used and save thousands of lives. The public needs to raise up against Mesothelioma and get Asbestos banned in the country for good.
However, if your quandary has augmented and now affects a larger area then you need to elevate to more advanced preventive techniques. The widespread therapy of chemotherapy is then carried out. In this, anti-cancer drugs are applied to obliterate or block the augmentation of cancer. And if the cancer returns, then there is no other option than that of a wide area excision.
The very first thing you should do is decrease your exposure to the sun as quickly as possible. As soon as you’ve lowered the exposure, determine which remedy alternative is well suited for your actinic keratosis. There are numerous alternatives to cope with these lesions so invest some time choosing.
Many times, skin cancer goes undetected because the person who has it did not realize anything was wrong. Generally, the easiest way to detect skin cancer is by checking all of your moles and freckles as well as looking for any other spots on your body. If you have moles that have changed shape or size quickly, you should have this looked at.
Your eyes also need protection from developing signs of skin cancer. The best protection for the eyes and surrounding skin is to wear sunglasses. Sunglasses with 99-100 percent UV absorption are recommended when you are in the sun.
The two most common kinds of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. (Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the cells that cover or line an organ.) Basal cell carcinoma accounts for more than 90 percent of all skin cancers in the United States. It is a slow-growing cancer that seldom spreads to other parts of the body. Squamous cell carcinoma also rarely spreads, but it does so more often than basal cell carcinoma. However, it is important that skin cancers be found and treated early because they can invade and destroy nearby tissue.
But there are alternatives. Having had a number of non-melanoma skin cancers, I’ve had the opportunity to try both the AMA (have the scars to prove it) as well as several “alternative” approaches. The method of treatment that I’ve settled on is the herb Chaparral. Chaparral is a plant that grows in the deserts of the southwestern U.S.
The most important thing that you can do if you are diagnosed with cancer is to start eating an anti-cancer diet. Cancer needs you to feed it. It is a disease that feeds off of the sugars in the body. One way to slow the spread of cancer is to give it less to eat. The best way to do this is by eliminating sugar and carbohydrates in your diet. If you do not consume these natural sugars, than the cancer will have less to feed on. You want to concentrate your diet on all natural fruits and grains. There have been many studies that show the benefits of eating raw foods against cancer.
But some shades are more effective than other shades. You can spend long hours under shade and still expose yourself to damaging sun exposure. That is because UVB rays, often considered the most harmful part of sunlight, can reach the skin indirectly. Indirect or diffuse UV light is radiation that has been scattered by clouds or other atmospheric elements and is bounced back from UV reflective surfaces. These surfaces include sand, water, snow, concrete, and white paint on the sides of buildings. So, even if you are sitting under an umbrella at the beach you may still be burned from UVB bouncing up from sand or water. Effective shade at the beach would be a structure with sides blocking indirect ultraviolet rays.
In addition to being on the lookout for skin cancer symptoms, you are also advised to focus on protection. As previously mentioned, a large number of men and women are diagnosed with skin cancer. With adequate prevention methods, you do not have to be one of those individuals. You are urged to avoid tanning beds and prolonged sun exposure, at any cost. If you must be in the sun for an extended period of time, you are urged to protect yourself with sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat.
St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School, an independent school for girls located in Oakville, Ontario, is pleased to announce that it has recently collaborated with PhotoSensitive’s Cancer Connections project, a touring exhibition that promotes cancer awareness. Not only is the school playing a large role in encouraging participation in the exhibition from other independent schools across Canada, but one of its students, Maddie Goodall, has had her photograph accepted to tour across Canada with the exhibition.
St. Mildred’s has reached out to the Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario (CIS) to encourage students to participate by making a submission to the exhibition.
The project, presented by PhotoSensitive in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society, is a large-scale black and white photographic exhibition depicting Canadians’ experiences with cancer.
St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School decided to partner with PhotoSensitive to raise awareness about the project in the independent school community. The school has written a letter to the CAIS community to encourage submissions on behalf of the schools and individual students to help raise cancer awareness.
The exhibition travels across the country to engage Canadians in conversations about cancer, in turn raising awareness about the disease. This project marks the first time that PhotoSensitive is accepting submissions from both professional photographers and the general public.
“SMLS is very excited to invite CAIS and CIS students from across Canada to join the Cancer Connections National Photography Exhibition,” says Karen Dyne, Director of Arts at St. Mildred’s. “It is a wonderful opportunity for student photographers to join professional photographers to help bring public awareness to one of the most important challenges facing society today.”
Maddie Goodall, who is a Grade 12 student at St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School, recently joined the Cancer Connections exhibition through the school’s work study program. Maddie has aspirations of pursuing a career in photography, and is joining the exhibition after taking photos of a number of her subjects. She presented six photographic submissions in total, which can be viewed on the Cancer Connections website – photosensitive.com/cc – by entering “Goodall” in the search bar.
“Through the one-month work study program offered at St. Mildred’s, I had the opportunity to work in the area of study I’m hoping to pursue in university,” says Goodall. “Working with Cancer Connections gave me the chance to gain valuable experience while participating in a very worthwhile project.”
The Cancer Connections exhibit is displayed in an open-air, public space to allow visitors to see the show for free and to maximize the number of people who see it. “Cancer Connections invites Canadians to tell their story of living with cancer through the power of black and white photography,” says Andrew Stawicki, cofounder of PhotoSensitive. “This sharing of images is a catalyst for engaging and connecting Canadians in conversations about cancer.”
The statistics show that two in five Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and many others are affected by the disease, whether personally or though a friend, relative or acquaintance. Cancer Connections’ photographic subjects include family members, those who have lost loved ones to the disease, and those who are helping to fight the disease – including doctors, nurses, volunteers and research scientists.
Both professional photographers and the general public can submit their portraits to Cancer Connections to become a part of the exhibition.
After debuting in Toronto in May 2008 with 300 images, Cancer Connections has exhibited in Montreal and Charlottetown. Now, with almost 500 images, Cancer Connections will showcase its exhibition in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland throughout September and October. The tour will continue in 2010, travelling to Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; and Ottawa, Ontario.
In addition to partnering with the Canadian Cancer Society and St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School for the Cancer Connections project, Chase Canada is the presenting sponsor for PhotoSensitive.
In the basal cell carcinoma, this is the most common skin cancer which is also known as non-melanoma. At the initial stage, it appears as the small lump only on those areas which are specially exposed to the air as well as to the sun. This type of skin cancer is easily recognized and mostly affected the areas like hands, neck and head. It rarely spreads on the other body parts and it also has high cure rate. Those who are having light colored skin or light eyes are mainly prone to this type of cancer. On the other hand, people with dark skinned are less prone to basal cell carcinoma. The squamous cell carcinoma is quite similar to the basal form of cancer. Symptoms of this cancer are generally present on the ears, lips or even on the whole face. It is easily curable just by following the proper medical treatment. In the initial stages, skin appears reddish and scaly.
On the other hand, malignant melanoma is rarer form but still most dangerous of in all other Types of skin cancer. Infection of this disease can rapidly spread on the other body parts via lymph nodes and blood streams, people with red or blonde hair or with freckles and blue eyes are more at risk. Shingles is the most painful disease which appears on the skin in the form of rushes with fluid blisters. Due to the Herpes virus, this disease is caused. The Shingles symptoms are varying according to the different stages. Like, in the first stage, patients may feel normal viral infections, rashes, nausea, headache, fever etc. In the next eruptive stage, patients are suffering with blisters which are appear on the different body parts such as arms, legs, face, buttock and so on.
The list of Shingles symptoms, tingling and burning sensation, numbness, and itching, burning pain are also included. In the initial stage, this disease can be easily curable. Home remedies cold sores are still preferable in most of the traditional treatments. To follow this treatment, you don’t need to visit any doctor. There are huge numbers of home remedies cold source which includes taking vitamins and its supplements, diet changes, applying certain type of powder or juice to a sore etc. These remedies will definitely give much relief and it is the best treatment to cure cold sore. Some patients are rubbing or pressing ice cubes on the sore or simply holding cubes against it. As soon as you realize the symptoms of cold sore, you can begin with these home remedies. Holding ice on the sore is the best way to cure and it is considered as the best known home remedy. In the list of other home remedies cold sores include rubbing extract of lemon balm, aloe Vera, tea tags etc. It helps to smaller their size as well as it effectively reduce pain.
