Thursday 23 June 2011

How Many People Are Going to Get Cancer?

Every year there are millions of people including men, women, and children who are diagnosed with cancer but getting an idea of how many people will get cancer depends on the cancer type and other factors including age, race, gender, and genetics. According to a 2009 report from the American Cancer Society close to 2 million new cases were expected to be diagnosed during 2009. Different cancers have different risks and probabilities associated so gaining an understanding of estimated numbers for risk outcomes can help you understand that type of cancer better.


Usually the probability and estimated the number of people who will get cancer involves studying groups of people including their behaviors and characteristics. There are different risks which are defined by cause and probability of people. For instance an absolute risk is a numeric probability of developing a specific cancer during a certain time period such as by age 70 or age 50 or within 5 years.


There is also a lifetime risk with certain cancers such as prostate cancer followed by a percentage out of every 100 men. A life time risk doesn't mean a person will develop cancer but it helps to put the risk into another perspective as to how it affects men and women in that category. A relative risk shows the relationship between the risk factor and the type cancer such as risk of developing lung cancer from the act of smoking. Usually the numbers are compared by age group and gender.


Cancer researchers have identified many hazards within our environment that are carcinogens or cancer causing elements such as the sun toward skin cancer and smoking towards lung cancer. Observing human behavior is a big part in cancer studies that involves keeping track of large groups for many years. This allows scientist to not only study characteristics and behaviors but compare their findings to learn how and why people get sick and those who don't.


Learning about different cancer risks and probabilities is often confusing because it doesn't tell you exactly what your own risk it but it gives you an idea based on the gender and age group you belong in. in some cases it may not apply to you but there are sources such as family members and your personal physician to utilized if you want to gain a personal understanding of developing cancer especially if there is a chance of cancer being hereditary.


Anytime you hear about statistics for a type of cancer it helps to put it into perspective to help gain a better understanding. Look into who was being observed for the study and how many people were involved. Usually studies are done for a certain period of time so it helps to learn of other studies that have been done that have produced similar results. Different cancers often have different risks and some have higher risks than others meaning more people are likely to be diagnosed. If you have concerns of your own seek more information.


 

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Information About Throat Cancer

Throat cancer is most easily described as any cancer which arises in the area of the throat, for instance in the vocal cords or in the larynx, that part of the body we often refer to as the voice box.


Smoking or chewing tobacco has been found to be one of the major causes of throat cancer. So easily preventable, yet so often ignored. Second hand smoke also has been found to be a cause of this cancer, that is being around someone who smokes or in an area where smoking has taken place.


Throat cancer occurs much more often in men than in women. Age seems to be a factor also, since most people who are diagnosed with this cancer are in their sixties or older. Medical professionals feel that their studies seem to indicate that the use of alcohol also can lead to this cancer.


Symptoms of throat cancer are such things as unusual breathing sounds, a persistent cough, often accompanied by coughing up blood, difficulty in swallowing, a long lasting hoarseness, pain in the area of the neck, persistent sore throats, swelling in the neck, a lump on the neck or a sudden, unexplainable loss of weight.


It is important not to ignore these warning signs. Throat cancer can be cured in ninety percent of its victims if it is caught in its early stages. It usually requires some form of surgery from a very simple form if caught it its early stages to more drastic measures later on. If the cancer has entered into the last stages, the surgery may well involve the removal of the larynx or some part of the throat which will result in the patient being unable to eat food normally.


Throat cancer is one that can quite often be prevented. Not smoking or using tobacco and minimizing ones intake of alcohol are major contributors to cutting down ones likelihood of getting this cancer. Although not all this cancers can be attributed to these things, the vast majority can be.


 

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