["Your County Matters!" Main Menu] [Oswego County Homepage]

In this week's column I would like to deviate from matters of county government and discuss an issue that has affected me deeply on a very personal level. It is an issue that we don't like to think about, but an issue which I feel very strongly about -- the need for each one of us to be aware of the symptoms of cancer and take personal responsibility for regular self-examinations.

I feel so strongly about this issue because of my own personal experience. I am among more than 8 million Americans who are cancer survivors.

In late 1997, at the age of 33, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Testicular cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer that most often strikes young men between the ages of 15 and 35. Scientists don't know what causes it; like other types of cancer, it is most treatable when it is diagnosed early. That is why it is so important for men to do a regular self-examination.

The symptoms of testicular cancer are a lump in either testicle, enlargement of a testicle, feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, or pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum. Other tumors have a tendency to develop upward, reaching the brain.

In my own case, I never paid attention or did the self-exams. I was oblivious to the tumors that were growing inside of me. One tumor grew to the size of an orange in my abdomen, and I negligently dismissed it as a natural event that my right side was larger than my left.

I am extremely lucky. I went through nine months of chemotherapy and two surgeries, and I have been cancer free since then.

This month is Cancer Control Awareness Month. It is a good time to think about how we can each reduce our risk of getting cancer. Here are some suggestions from the New York State Department of Health:

• Choose a healthy lifestyle. Your diet is directly linked to some types of cancer. At least five servings of fresh fruit and vegetables daily will provide needed nutrients and reduce fat and cholesterol.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Learn to control calories and portion sizes. Stay active and exercise regularly.
• Avoid tobacco and limit your alcohol consumption. Smoking is the single major cause of cancer deaths in the United States. As soon as you stop smoking, you begin to reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease and other illnesses.
• Avoid exposure to the sun. Get in the habit of using sunscreen year-round, and protect your skin by wearing a hat and shirt when you're in the sun.
• Early detection is a key to treating cancer. Learn to recognize symptoms and do self-exams regularly.
• Visit your health care provider regularly. Stay up-to-date with tests and exams such as mammograms, PAP tests and colonoscopies.

Scientists say that at least half of all cancer deaths are preventable. You can find more information about what you can do to help yourself and those you care about on the New York State Health Department Web site at www.health.state.ny.us