HEALTH + WELLNESS
Why Cancer Awareness Saves Lives cont... symptoms include unusual bleeding( especially after menopause or between periods), bloating, tummy or pelvic pain, changes in toilet habits or itching or lumps around the vulva.
Hereditary Cancer
About 5 to 10 % of cancers are thought to be hereditary. In these cases, an individual inherits a copy of a growth control gene with a mutation from one parent, and a working copy of the same gene from the other parent. The gene with the mutation is also called a‘ cancer susceptibility gene’. Since this cancer susceptibility gene is inherited, it is found in every cell of the body, but the working copy of the gene keeps each cell working properly. However, if the working copy of the gene in a cell becomes damaged by a mutation, that cell can lose its growth control and become cancerous. Common warning signs include unusual lumps, changes in moles, unexplained weight loss or long-term fatigue.
Thyroid Cancer
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland found at the front, lower part of your neck that makes and releases hormones. Thyroid cancer is a rare but treatable type of cancer and is more common in women than in men. The main symptoms include a painless lump in the neck, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and sometimes a persistent cough. Most thyroid lumps aren’ t cancerous, but it’ s still a good idea to get them checked. diagnosed too late( 70 %)- more than they fear nuclear war, dementia or heart attacks- and sadly, around half of all cancers in England are still caught late-stage. Additionally, societal inequalities also persist with cancer death rates in the most deprived communities estimated to be almost 60 % higher and approximately 28,000 extra deaths registered annually due to preventable factors like smoking and obesity.
As is evident, there is still work to be done, but there’ s all sorts of ways we can all help to raise important funds to support cancer research, as well as keeping awareness at the forefront of the ongoing agenda.
Learn and share: Know the key signs- persistent cough, unexplained weight loss and unusual lumps- and share facts through casual chats or on social media. Personal experience adds warmth and realness, so sharing with others how cancer detection came early or how lifestyle changes helped you will inspire, not alarm.
Support screening: National screening programmes catch many cancers early, predominantly breast, bowel, cervical and lung, yet take-up is lower in more deprived areas. Encourage loved ones to attend with a gentle nudge or help booking an appointment.
HELP AND SUPPORT ACROSS KENT
Fundraise and join events: From raising money to pledging a gift in your will, volunteering or donating, all of us can support the research that will help beat cancer and there are so many different ways you can get involved from physical challenges to bake sales and coffee mornings; head to the following websites for more inspiration, fundraising packs and merchandise: cancerresearchuk. org / get-involved standuptocancer. org. uk / get-involved
Advocate for change: Support policies around better early detection, targeted lung screening and reducing health inequality by signing petitions or writing to your local MPs – a light but effective way to push progress.
Awareness is not about scaring people, it’ s about empowerment. When we know how cancers form, what to watch for and how to prevent them – and, crucially, when we support one another to act- we turn concern into action. Every chat we have, donation we make and healthy choice we make helps drive cancer further back, so let’ s champion awareness and keep the conversation going.
Urological Cancer
Urological cancers affect areas like the bladder, kidneys, prostate and testicles – here, it’ s important to look out for symptoms such as blood in your urine, changes in urination, pain in the lower back or pelvis, or lumps in the testicles. Again, these symptoms don’ t always mean cancer, but they should be checked by a doctor.
The hard reality is that one in two people will develop cancer in their lifetime; an astonishing statistic, yes, but also a powerful call to action. That said, over the past 50 years, cancer survival has doubled, with one in two now living at least 10 years post-diagnosis, which is a stark improvement from just 25 % in the 1970s, and mortality rates have dropped about 23 %, from 328 to 252 deaths per 100,000 people. However, incidence is rising: cancer cases grew by nearly 47 % over 50 years and projections show annual diagnoses might reach over half a million by 2040. Awareness therefore, not only saves lives by encouraging people to seek help sooner, but is the foundation of early detection, prevention and real progress.
There are, of course, many challenges that remain across all cancers. Late diagnoses remain perhaps the most significant barrier. While the public ranks cancer as its top health worry( 62 %), many fear being
Kent has several spas and wellness centres offering cancer touch therapy or oncology‐trained massage, which both provide gentle, nurturing support, easing anxiety, pain and fatigue, promoting relaxation, improving sleep and offering emotional comfort during treatment and recovery.
The Granary Spa, Ashford thegranaryspa. co. uk Offers mindful touch therapy spa rituals designed to slow down the mind and promote relaxation, bringing harmony to the mind and body, and a gentle feeling of having been nurtured and held.
Rebalance Kent, East Farleigh rebalancekent. co. uk Specialists in oncology massage, a specialised gentle and supportive form of massage therapy tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals going through cancer treatment or those with a history of cancer that enhances the overall wellbeing of cancer patients by addressing the physical and emotional challenges they may face.
Scar Therapy Kent, Sevenoaks scartherapykent. com Provides gentle, patient‐centred oncology massage to reduce stress, anxiety, low mood and nausea; support lymph drainage and the circulatory system; help support the body to rest and improve sleep; reduce pain and fatigue; increase mental clarity and focus; and re-establish a positive body image.
We also have some wonderful, warm and friendly spaces led by trusts and charities offering support to anyone impacted by cancer, who are always on the look out for support with volunteering and fundraising.
The Chartwell Charities, Westerham chartwellcancertrust. co. uk Two small, dynamic charities working to make critical improvements to the treatment and care of adults and children living with cancer and leukaemia.
The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre, Tunbridge Wells pickeringcancercentre. org Drop-in help and support for anyone going through the emotion of cancer, from diagnosis onwards, be they patients, their family, friends or carers.
Kent Cancer Trust, Margate kentcancertrust. org. uk Raising money to fund projects that seek to improve the treatment of Kent cancer patients- all the money they raise in Kent is spent in Kent on cancer care improvements.
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