So September is ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, gynecological cancer, and childhood cancer awareness month. So here are the looks:
Childhood cancer (gold): This is so important to me because I wouldn't wish cancer on my worst enemy, let alone and innocent child. If anyone in this world deserves cancer the least, it is a child. We lose so many children each year to this horrible, horrible disease.
Multiple Myeloma (burgundy): This cancer is important to me because it's what my grandmother died from. It's a crazy cancer that attacks the plasma cells of blood and shows itself in really weird ways. It affects kidneys and bones and other ways I'll never understand.
Leukemia (orange): Leukemia is a cancer of the blood. I have known quite a few people who have had leukemia. This affects people of all ages. My Uncle Brian had leukemia, he got an infection from having his immune system so suppressed from chemotherapy and that took his life.
Lymphoma (lime): Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the cells of your immune system, called lymphocytes. My husband's coworker had a swollen lymphnode on his neck. After some convincing, he went to the doctor about it, the doctor said it was an infection and gave him an antibiotic. When the lump hadn't gone away, my husband convinced him he needed to get it looked at again (this was shortly after I was diagnosed). So he did. It was Hodgkin's lymphoma. Luckily it was caught early and he's ok after chemotherapy and radiation.
Prostate Cancer (light blue): Researching a little bit, I found out that prostate cancer is diagnosed in 80% of men who reach age 80. That's insane! It is the second leading cancer-related death in men in the United States.
Ovarian Cancer (teal): There is no good screening for ovarian cancer, no preventative screening. Women need to pay attention to their bodies and listen to any symptoms they may be showing. Some possible symptoms include pelvic discomfort or pain, loss of appetite or feeling full quickly, changes in bowel or bladder habits, low back pain, etc.
Gynecological Cancer (peach): This includes ovarian, uterine, cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. Women really need to be as proactive in screening for these as they are in screening for breast cancer. These cancers are serious and they affect so many women each year! Go for your pap-smear (I know, they suck!) every year because you owe it to yourself to make sure everything is good!
Thyroid cancer (teal, blue, and pink): I have read that thyroid cancer doesn't always have symptoms so it can be really hard to find and diagnose. Thyroid cancer starts with a thyroid nodule, most aren't cancerous, but they could be. If you feel a lump in your neck, a swollen lymphnode, if you have a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing or breathing, you should get it checked out. There's no need to play around with something like that!
There is a lot of information out there about all of these cancers. I have said it about a million times, but I will say it again. If something is wrong in your body and you know it, go get it checked out. Too often we put things off because "it'll get better" (I'm completely guilty of this). Your life isn't worth risking!!
I did these looks to celebrate everyone who has been touched by any of these diseases and their loved ones. I think all cancers are important and people need to learn about them!
