February 4 2015

World Cancer Day 2015

By: ROZZ Editorial

Cancer is no joke and despite all the testing available we still don't know enough about the causes and why some fall victim and some do not. All we can do is try to live a healthy life and make regular testing part of our regimen.

Persons fighting cancer and their family and friends will need support if cancer will be beat. The effects of chemotherapy will change a person's life and their body and helping them cope with these changes will have an impact on their survival.

Cancer signs and symptoms and Detection

The signs and symptoms of cancer depend on where the cancer is, how big it is, and how much it affects the organs or tissues. If cancer has spread (metastasized), signs or symptoms may appear in different parts of the body. As a cancer grows, it can begin to push on nearby organs, blood vessels, and nerves. Cancer may also cause symptoms like fever, extreme fatigue or weight loss because cancer cells use up much of the body's energy supply.

Treatment works best when cancer is found early i.e. before it has had the chance to grow and spread. Melanoma skin cancer can be easy to remove if it has not grown deep into the skin. The percentage of people who live at least 5 years after diagnosis is around 98%. Once melanoma has spread to other parts of the body, the 5-year survival rate drops to about 16%. Ensuring everyone has access to early detection programmes for cancer can significantly reduce the percentage of cancer cases in countries.

The American Cancer Society recommends that after age 20 all persons should get cancer checkups as part of general health visits to the doctor. This checkup should include looking for cancers of the skin, thyroid, mouth, lymph nodes and testicles.

For more information please visit the American Cancer Society.

Celebrities who battled Cancer

Fighting a deadly disease is bad enough but having to do so while in the public spotlight is even harder. These celebrities have fought cancer and unfortunately some of them did not survive. May they R.I.P.


Christina Applegate underwent a double mastectomy after doctors found cancerous lumps in one of her breasts in July 2008. She is now very involved in breast cancer prevention and has started her own foundation.	Kylie Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and after eight months of chemo she was declared cancer free.

Sheryl Crow battled breast cancer in 2006.	Cynthia Nixon was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. She later became an ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Farrah Fawcett February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009	Patrick Swayze August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009