We’ve seen quite a few different topic of the months lately to do with cancer, like World Cancer Day and Breast Cancer Awareness, but this month there are to different types of cancer being highlighted – prostate cancer and ovarian cancer.
Prostate cancer affects many men in their lifetimes – in fact there is an average of around 52,000 cases each year and it is the most common type of cancer for males. Although ovarian cancer is much less than that, with an average of around 7000 per year it is still the 5th most common cancer for females – it is just as important to raise awareness for both of these so that research can help those who are affected or will be affected in the years coming.
Because of the research already completed, survival of those with these cancers have significantly improved in the last 40 years – so every little helps when it comes to raising awareness of and fundraising for both ovarian and prostate cancer.
But do you know the signs and symptoms of both these types of cancer? It’s important that you, and your loved ones know the symptoms as early diagnosis significantly increases a person’s chance of recovery:
Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer
- Increased abdominal size and persistent bloating (not bloating that comes and goes)
- Persistent pelvic and abdominal pain
- Unexplained change in bowel habits
- Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly, or feeling nauseous
Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer
- Difficulty starting to urinate or emptying your bladder
- A feeling that your bladder hasn’t emptied properly
- Needing to urinate more often than usual, especially at night
- A sudden need to urinate – you may sometimes leak urine before you get to the toilet
- Blood in your urine or blood in your semen
For March this year, there are campaigns to help raise money for the awareness of these cancers – “March the Month”. March the month is asking everyone to try their best to take on the 11,000 step a day challenge, all you need is a smartphone or a pedometer to track your steps and you’ll be good to go. You can sign up to help fundraise for ovarian cancer HERE or prostate cancer HERE.
So, will you be helping to raise money or awareness to fund lifesaving research into prostate and ovarian cancer this month? Sign up to help now.