Clarkies Against Cancer/ Relay For Life

Happy May Clarkies! We wanted to give you a breather as we all prepare for the final few weeks of the semester!

We’d like to start this May’s advocacy with Melanona and Skin Cancer.

Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, develops in the cells (melanocytes) that produce melanin — the pigment that gives your skin its color. Melanoma can also form in your eyes and, rarely, inside your body, such as in your nose or throat.

The exact cause of all melanomas isn't clear, but exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight or tanning lamps and beds increases your risk of developing melanoma. Limiting your exposure to UV radiation can help reduce your risk of melanoma.

The risk of melanoma seems to be increasing in people under 40, especially women. Knowing the warning signs of skin cancer can help ensure that cancerous changes are detected and treated before the cancer has spread. Melanoma can be treated successfully if it is detected early.

For symptoms, treatment, and other important information related to Melanoma, please visit the link below:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/melanoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20374884

Hi Clarkies! For our last day of April advocacy, we will be focusing on Head and Neck cancer.

Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers are cancers that start in the head and neck area. Cancer that starts in the mouth is called oral cavity cancer. Cancer that starts in the middle part of the throat is called oropharyngeal cancer. These cancers start when cells in the oral cavity or oropharynx grow out of control and crowd out normal cells.

The most common type of cancer in the oral cavity and oropharynx is called squamous cell carcinoma (cancer). These cancers start in the squamous cells that line the mouth (oral cavity) and the middle part of the throat (oropharynx).

For more information please visit the link below: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer/if-you-have-head-or-neck-cancer.html

Hello Clarkies! This week’s advocacy post is for Esophageal cancer.

Esophageal cancer is cancer that occurs in the esophagus — a long, hollow tube that runs from your throat to your stomach. Your esophagus helps move the food you swallow from the back of your throat to your stomach to be digested.

Esophageal cancer usually begins in the cells that line the inside of the esophagus. Esophageal cancer can occur anywhere along the esophagus. More men than women get esophageal cancer.

For more information please visit the link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/esophageal-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20356084

Happy April, Clarkies!

We’re starting this month off with our first advocacy event for Testicular Cancer.

Testicular cancer occurs in the testicles (te**es), which are located inside the sc***um, a loose bag of skin underneath the p***s. The testicles produce male s*x hormones and s***m for reproduction.

Compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare. But testicular cancer is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 35.

Testicular cancer is highly treatable, even when cancer has spread beyond the testicle. Depending on the type and stage of testicular cancer, you may receive one of several treatments, or a combination.

For more information please visit the following link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/testicular-cancer-care/symptoms-causes/syc-20352986

To end the month of March, our final advocacy day is for Multiple Myeloma. ❤️

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells. Normal plasma cells are found in the bone marrow and are an important part of the immune system. The immune system is made up of several types of cells that work together to fight infections and other diseases. Lymphocytes (lymph cells) are one of the main types of white blood cells in the immune system and include T cells and B cells. Lymphocytes are in many areas of the body, such as lymph nodes, the bone marrow, the intestines, and the bloodstream.

In general, when plasma cells become cancerous and grow out of control, this is called multiple myeloma. The plasma cells make an abnormal protein (antibody) known by several different names, including monoclonal immunoglobulin, monoclonal protein (M-protein), M-spike, or paraprotein.

For more information please visit the link below: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/about/what-is-multiple-myeloma.html

For our Advocacy this week, we will be focusing on Kidney Cancer 🧡

Kidney cancer is cancer that begins in the kidneys. Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They're located behind your abdominal organs, with one kidney on each side of your spine.

In adults, renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. Other less common types of kidney cancer can occur. Young children are more likely to develop a kind of kidney cancer called Wilms' tumor.

For more information please visit: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20352664

Our first advocacy this month is Colorectal Cancer. 💙

Most colorectal cancers start as a growth on the inner lining of the colon or re**um. These growths are called polyps.

Some types of polyps can change into cancer over time (usually many years), but not all polyps become cancer. The chance of a polyp turning into cancer depends on the type of polyp it is. There are different types of polyps.

For more information please visit the link below:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/what-is-colorectal-cancer.html

Happy Spring Semester Clarkies!

Today we advocate for Gallbladder Cancer. 💚

Gallbladder cancers rare and nearly all of them are adenocarcinomas. An adenocarcinoma is a cancer that starts in gland-like cells that line many surfaces of the body, including the inside the digestive system.

Gallbladder cancer doesn't usually cause signs or symptoms until later in the course of the disease, when the tumor is large and/or has spread. But sometimes symptoms can appear sooner and lead to an early diagnosis. If the cancer is found at an earlier stage, treatment might work better.

To find more information about Gallbladder Cancer, please use the link below:

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/gallbladder-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html

*February is also National Cancer Prevention Month*

Happy New Year Clarkies! This January, we are raising awareness for Cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix — the lower part of the uterus that connects to the va**na. Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a s*xually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cervical cancer. You can reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer by having screening tests and receiving a vaccine that protects against HPV infection.

For more information, please visit:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cervical-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20352501

For our last November advocacy day, we are advocating for Carcinoid Cancer.

Carcinoid tumors are a type of slow-growing cancer that can arise in several places throughout your body. Carcinoid tumors, which are one subset of tumors called neuroendocrine tumors, usually begin in the digestive tract (stomach, appendix, small intestine, colon, re**um) or in the lungs.

For more information, please go to the following link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carcinoid-tumors/symptoms-causes/syc-20351039

Today is GASO, the Great American Smoke Out. Today is Lung Cancer Advocacy day.

I never knew that the summer going into my freshman year of college would be the hardest of my life. My dad was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer on June 25th. He passed away on September 20th. I miss him everyday, with all of my heart. I joined Clarkies Against Cancer to help the fight against cancer, and advocate and raise awareness. The battle is far from over, but I’ll never give up. I love you dad.

-Ethan Silk, Clarkies Against Cancer VP

Stomach cancer has touched my life in an unexpected way. In my senior year of high school my Papa fought the battle with stomach cancer, and he unfortunately did not make it through. But through his passing and the battles that others in my life have gone through, I took the opportunity to join this club. Just because we don't talk about stomach cancer much doesn't mean it's not real.

Stay vigilant about symptom checking - for more information see

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/stomach-cancer.html