Your annual reminder.
I'm three days late this year. but ya know.
Two years ago my father and my brother were diagnosed with cancer. My father with prostate, my brother with testicular. These are the two of the most common cancers for males in their age groups (50+ for dad, 20's & early 30's for bro). 1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. 1 in 300 will get testicular cancer. The good news is, is that the survival rate for both cancers is very high if detected early.
Luckily, both my brother and father's cancers were caught very early, they began treatment and are doing just fine. All of their doctors were very optimistic from the very beginning, in both of their cases, because the cancers were caught extremely early and they started treatment vigorously and promptly.
I'm writing all of this to encourage all you boys to check yourselves regularly (as far as testicular cancer). This is the perfect excuse to play with yourselves! (like you need one, I know...) Check your junk out, if you feel something weird, ask your Dr. about it. If you have a significant other, have them check your junk out, make it fun ;) Girls, encourage the boys you know to pay attention & ask their Dr.'s if they feel anything weird.
As far as prostate cancer is concerned, encourage your fathers, uncles, brothers, etc. to get tested regularly starting at age 45 or 50 (and do the same for yourself, when the time comes!). PSA levels (a strong indicator of prostate cancer) can be tracked easily through a simple blood test as part of a regular physical.
I'd really prefer that none of you get cancer, or have to deal with a loved one getting cancer. But if you do, I hope it's caught early, treated well and is only a small glitch in an otherwise healthy life.
XOXO
For more information on Testicular Cancer, check out the American Cancer Society's overview & details
For more information on Prostate Cancer, check out the ACS's overview & details
Two years ago my father and my brother were diagnosed with cancer. My father with prostate, my brother with testicular. These are the two of the most common cancers for males in their age groups (50+ for dad, 20's & early 30's for bro). 1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. 1 in 300 will get testicular cancer. The good news is, is that the survival rate for both cancers is very high if detected early.
Luckily, both my brother and father's cancers were caught very early, they began treatment and are doing just fine. All of their doctors were very optimistic from the very beginning, in both of their cases, because the cancers were caught extremely early and they started treatment vigorously and promptly.
I'm writing all of this to encourage all you boys to check yourselves regularly (as far as testicular cancer). This is the perfect excuse to play with yourselves! (like you need one, I know...) Check your junk out, if you feel something weird, ask your Dr. about it. If you have a significant other, have them check your junk out, make it fun ;) Girls, encourage the boys you know to pay attention & ask their Dr.'s if they feel anything weird.
As far as prostate cancer is concerned, encourage your fathers, uncles, brothers, etc. to get tested regularly starting at age 45 or 50 (and do the same for yourself, when the time comes!). PSA levels (a strong indicator of prostate cancer) can be tracked easily through a simple blood test as part of a regular physical.
I'd really prefer that none of you get cancer, or have to deal with a loved one getting cancer. But if you do, I hope it's caught early, treated well and is only a small glitch in an otherwise healthy life.
XOXO
For more information on Testicular Cancer, check out the American Cancer Society's overview & details
For more information on Prostate Cancer, check out the ACS's overview & details