Ten Facts about Testicular and Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer
April is a busy month for cancer awareness, with both testicular cancer and oral, head, and neck cancer on the calendar.To promote some awareness for these particular types of cancer, here are five facts that we learned about each:
Testicular Cancer
#1: More than 90% of testicular cancers develop in the special cells that make sperm, known as “germ cells.” Germ cell tumors (GCTs) occur in two main types: Seminomas and Non-seminomas.#2: Testicular cancer is actually pretty rare. The chance of a man developing testicular cancer in his lifetime is about 1 in 270.#3: For those that are diagnosed, the chance of dying from the disease are even less common: 1 in 5,000.#4: While scientists have identified a few risk factors associated with testicular cancer, most boys and men diagnosed with the disease don’t have any of them.#5: Most testicular cancers can be found at an early stage, either by a self-exam, or an exam from a physician. A lump in the testicle is usually the first sign.For more information and facts about testicular cancer, please visit the www.cancer.org.
Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer
#1: While Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer most commonly refers to squamous call carcinoma of the tongue, throat, and voice box, it can also refer to many other types of cancers that occur in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, thyroid glands, salivary glands, throat, or voice box.#2: Cigarette smoking increases your risk of head and neck cancer by 15 times compared to a non-smoker.#3: Fifty percent of individuals diagnosed with head and neck cancers have very advanced cases by the time they first see a doctor.#4: Signs of oral, head and neck cancers include: a sore in your mouth that doesn’t heal, sore throat, lumps or patches in your mouth, trouble swallowing, changes in your voice, and a lump in your neck.#5: Oral, head, and neck cancer is the 6th most common form of cancer in the world.For more information and facts about oral, head, and neck cancer, please visit www.headandneck.org.Bonus Fact: The June E. Nylen Cancer Center provides Oral, Head, and Neck screenings for adults, which includes a physical examination of the neck, oropharynx (the middle section of the throat), the soft palate, the base of the tongue, the tonsils and the mouth. To find out more about these screenings, call us at <a href="tel:7122520088">(712) 252-0088</a> or visit our screenings page.Did any of these facts surprise you? If you do further reading on your own, feel free to share additional facts in the comment section below.