• This is a type of cancer that starts in the bladder.
• This type of cancer affects mostly older adults and it is usually detected when it is still treatable.
• It is however, most likely to reoccur therefore, follow up tests are highly recommended.

• Smoking – this is the greatest risk of bladder cancer.
• Work Exposure– working in environments where one is highly exposed to chemicals poses as a risk factor for bladder cancer.
• Age – Bladder cancer is common among people aged 55 years and above.
• Gender – It is more common in males compared to females.
• Earlier cancer treatment –some drugs or radiation used to treat cancer can increase the threat of being diagnosed with cervical cancer.
• Not drinking enough liquids – people who drink lots of fluids each day have a lower risk of getting cervical cancer.

• • Blood in urine.
  • Pain on your lower back.
  • Unable to urinate.
  • Chronic bladder irritation.
  • Reduced bladder capacity.
  • Changes in bladder habits – these could include (Having to urinate more often, feeling pain or a burning sensation while urinating (dysuria), feeling like you want to pee right away even if the bladder is not full (urgency) )

   

  Certain signs and symptoms could suggest that a person might have bladder cancer. But tests are needed to confirm this. And keep in mind that these symptoms are most often caused by something other than cancer. Smoking is believed to be a major cause of bladder cancer among men and women.  At this time there are no special tests that can find bladder cancer. However, if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, the best way to find it is to report  to your doctor.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.

• This is a type of cancer that forms in the cells of the breast.
• It occurs in both men and women, however, the cases of breast cancer in men are minimal.
• It is one among the leading cause of cancer related deaths among women.

• Gender – despite the fact that men get breast cancer too, being a woman is one of the main risk factor of developing breast cancer.
• Aging – 2 of 3 invasive breast cancers are found in women aged 55 years and above, although the risk age gap has come down to 35 years, therefore women should go for breast cancer screening regularly.
• Genetic Risk Factors – About5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary, resulting directly from gene defects (called mutations) inherited from a parent. Also, may have a family history among close blood relatives.
• Physical Activity– people who exercise are at lower risk of getting breast cancer.
• Being overweight or obese increases the risk.

• Skin irritation or dimpling.
• Swelling of the whole breast or part of the breast.
• Nipple discharge.
• Breast or nipple pain.
• Nipple retraction (turning inside)
• Sometimes a breast cancer can spread from the breast to the lymph nodes under the arm or the collarbone, and cause a swelling there, even before the original tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt. Swollen lymph nodes should be reported to the doctor.

Certain signs and symptoms could suggest that a person might have breast cancer. But tests are needed to confirm this. The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A mass that is painless, hard, and has irregular edges is more likely to be cancerous, but breast cancers can be tender, soft, or rounded. they can even be painful. For this reason, it is important to have any new mass, lump, or breast change changed by a healthcare professional with experience in diagnosing breast diseases.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.

This is a malignant tumor of the cervix, the lowest part of the uterus.

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)– This is a sexually transmitted virus, usually acquired through direct skin to skin contact. There are many types of the virus, that consist to over 100 types, most of which are not problematic. Types 16 and 18 are the ones that could lead to cervical cancer.
• Family History –if there is the history of cervical in your family, maybe your mum, sister, aunt… had the cancer, it is advised that you go for regular screenings.
• Young age first full-term pregnancy– young girls who carry a pregnancy to full term below the age of 15 years are at a more risk of getting cervical cancer at a later stage in their lives, unlike those who wait till after 25 years.
• Herpes– women suffering from herpes are at an increased risk of developing   cervical cancer.
• Smoking– women who smoke are said to be twice at the risk of getting cervical cancer unlike their fellow females who do not smoke.
• Age –girls younger than 15 years rarely develop cervical cancer. The risk goes up as they approach their mid teens all the way to their mid 30s.
• Socioeconomic factors – women living in marginalized and remote areas are more likely to develop cervical cancer as they are not able to access screening facilities.

• Bleeding between normal periods (intermenstrual bleeding)
• Bleeding after having sex (post- coital bleeding)
• Any vaginal bleeding in women past menopause.
• Vaginal discharge that smells unpleasant.
• Discomfort or pain during person.
• Having longer or heavy menstrual period than usual.
• These signs and symptoms can also be caused by conditions other than cervical cancer. For example, an infection can cause pain or bleeding. Still, if you have any of these problems, you should see your health care professional right away ~ even if you have been getting regular Pap tests. If it is an infection, it will need to be treated. If it is cancer, ignoring symptoms may allow it to progress to a more advanced stage and lower your chance for effective treatment.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.

A cancer of the rectum or colon that is located at the end of the digestive tract.

• Age– Colorectal cancer is most common to people aged 50 years and above
• Family History – 1 out of 5 diagnosed have family members who have members of their families who have been earlier diagnosed.
• Heavy alcohol use – heavy alcohol use has been linked  to cases of colorectal cancer
• Personal History–  Adenomatous polyps (adenomas), Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis & Crohn’s disease, or have had colorectal cancer in the past, are more likely to develop new cancers in other areas of the colon and rectum
• Inherited syndrome– About 5% to 10% of people who develop colorectal cancer have inherited gene defects (mutations)

• A change in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days.
• A feeling that you have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so.
• Cramping or abdominal body pain.
• Weakness and fatigue.
• Unintended weight loss.
• Most of these symptoms are more often caused by conditions other than colorectal cancer, such as infection, hemorrhoids, or inflammatory bowel disease. Still, if you have any of these problems, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.

• This is a type of cancer that starts in the uterus.
• It begins in the cells that form the uterine layers.

• More years of menstruation.Starting menstruation at an early age — before age 12 — or beginning menopause later increases the risk of endometrial cancer. The more periods you’ve had, the more exposure your endometrium has had to estrogen.
• Never having been pregnant.Women who have never been pregnant have a higher risk of endometrial cancer than do women who have had at least one pregnancy.
• Older age.As you get older, your risk of endometrial cancer increases. Endometrial cancer occurs most often in women who have undergone menopause.
• Being obese increases your risk of endometrial cancer. This may occur because excess body fat alters your body’s balance of hormones.
• Hormone therapy for breast cancer.Women with breast cancer who take the hormone therapy drug tamoxifen have an increased risk of developing endometrial cancer. If you’re taking tamoxifen, discuss this risk with your doctor. For most women, the benefits of tamoxifen outweigh the small risk of endometrial cancer.
• An inherited colon cancer syndrome.Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is a syndrome that increases the risk of colon cancer and other cancers, including endometrial cancer. HNPCC occurs because of a gene mutation passed from parents to children. If a family member has been diagnosed with HNPCC, discuss your risk of the genetic syndrome with your doctor. If you’ve been diagnosed with HNPCC, ask your doctor what cancer screening tests you should undergo.

• Vaginal bleeding after menopause
• Bleeding between periods
• An abnormal, watery or blood-tinged discharge from your vagina
• Pelvic pain

These signs and symptoms can also be caused by conditions other than endometrial cancer. For example, an infection can cause pain or bleeding. still, if you have any of these problems, you should see your health care professional right away — even if you have been getting regular Pap tests. If it is an infection, it will need to be treated. If it is cancer, ignoring symptoms may allow it to progress to a more advanced stage and lower the chances to effective treatment.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.

This is a type of cancer that occurs in the esophagus, the tube that runs from the throat to the stomach.

• Having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Smoking
• Having precancerous changes in the cells of the esophagus (Barrett’s esophagus)
• Being obese
• Drinking alcohol
• Having bile reflux
• Having difficulty swallowing because of an esophageal sphincter that won’t relax (achalasia)
• Having a steady habit of drinking very hot liquids
• Not eating enough fruits and vegetables
• Undergoing radiation treatment to the chest or upper abdomen

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Weight loss without trying
• Chest pain, pressure or burning
• Worsening indigestion or heartburn
• Coughing or hoarseness
• Bleeding in the esophagus – this blood then passes through the digestive tract, which may turn stools black.  With time, this loss of blood may lead to anaemia, which may make the person feel tired.
• Trouble swallowing.

Having one or more of the symptoms above does not mean you have esophageal cancer. In fact, many of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by other conditions. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, especially trouble swallowing, it is very important to have them checked by a doctor, so that the cause can be found and treated if need be.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.

• This type of cancer is also known as “Renal cancer”
• This is a type of cancer that develops when Kidney cells become malignant (cancerous) and grow out of control forming a tumor.

• Older age.Your risk of kidney cancer increases as you age.
• Smokers have a greater risk of kidney cancer than nonsmokers do. The risk decreases after you quit.
• People who are obese have a higher risk of kidney cancer than people who are considered average weight.
• High blood pressure (hypertension).High blood pressure increases your risk of kidney cancer.
• Treatment for kidney failure.People who receive long-term dialysis to treat chronic kidney failure have a greater risk of developing kidney cancer.
• Certain inherited syndromes.People who are born with certain inherited syndromes may have an increased risk of kidney cancer, such as those who have von Hippel-Lindau disease, Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex, hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma or familial renal cancer.
• Family history of kidney cancer.Even in the absence of an inherited syndrome, people who have a strong family history of renal cell cancer have a greater risk of kidney cancer.
• Exposure to certain substances in the workplace.This might include, for example, exposure to cadmium or specific herbicides.

• Blood in urine (hematuria)
• Low back pain that is one sided.
• A mass (lump) on the side of the lower back.
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Weight loss not caused by dieting.
• Fever which is usually comes and goes (intermittent)

These symptoms may be caused by cancer, but more often they are caused by other, benign, diseases. for example, blood in the urine can be a sign of kidney, bladder, or prostate cancer, but most often it is caused by a bladder infection or a kidney stone. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, consult a doctor so that the cause can be evaluated and treated, if needed. If it is cancer, ignoring symptoms may allow is to progress to a more advanced stage.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.

This is a type of cancer that starts in the liver cells.  Several types of cancer form in the liver, but the most common one is hepatocellular Carcinoma, which begins in the main type of liver cell (hepatocyte)

• Chronic infection with HBV or HCV.Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) increases your risk of liver cancer.
• This progressive and irreversible condition causes scar tissue to form in your liver and increases your chances of developing liver cancer.
• Certain inherited liver diseases.Liver diseases that can increase the risk of liver cancer include hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease.
• People with this blood sugar disorder have a greater risk of liver cancer than those who don’t have diabetes.
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.An accumulation of fat in the liver increases the risk of liver cancer.
• Exposure to aflatoxins.Aflatoxins are poisons produced by molds that grow on crops that are stored poorly. Crops such as corn and peanuts can become contaminated with aflatoxins, which can end up in foods made of these products. In the United States, safety regulations limit aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxin contamination is more common in certain parts of Africa and Asia.
• Excessive alcohol consumption.Consuming more than a moderate amount of alcohol daily over many years can lead to irreversible liver damage and increase your risk of liver cancer.

• Losing weight without trying
• Loss of appetite
• Upper abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• General weakness and fatigue
• Abdominal swelling
• Yellow discoloration of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
• White, chalky stools

Many of the signs and symptoms of liver cancer can also be caused by other conditions, including other liver problems. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed. If it is cancer, ignoring symptoms may lead to a reduced chance or effective treatment, and therefore reduced survival chances.
EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.

This is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs and often occurs in people who smoke.

• Your risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke each day and the number of years you have smoked. Quitting at any age can significantly lower your risk of developing lung cancer.
• Exposure to secondhand smoke.Even if you don’t smoke, your risk of lung cancer increases if you’re exposed to secondhand smoke.
• Exposure to radon gas.Radon is produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water that eventually becomes part of the air you breathe. Unsafe levels of radon can accumulate in any building, including homes.
• Exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens.Workplace exposure to asbestos and other substances known to cause cancer — such as arsenic, chromium and nickel — also can increase your risk of developing lung cancer, especially if you’re a smoker.
• Family history of lung cancer.People with a parent, sibling or child with lung cancer have an increased risk of the disease.

• A new cough that doesn’t go away
• Coughing up blood, even a small amount
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Hoarseness
• Losing weight without trying
• Bone pain
• Headache

Most lung cancers are not found until they start to cause symptoms. Symptoms can suggest that a person may have lung cancer, but the actual diagnosis is made by looking at lung cells under a microscope. Most lung cancers do not cause any symptoms until they have spread too far to be cured, but symptoms do occur in some people with early lung cancer. If you go to your doctor when you first notice symptoms , your cancer might be diagnosed at an early stage when treatment is most effective.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.

• This is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries in women.
• This type of cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and stomach.

• Older age.Ovarian cancer can occur at any age but is most common in women ages 50 to 60 years.
• Inherited gene mutations.A small percentage of ovarian cancers are caused by gene mutations you inherit from your parents. The genes known to increase the risk of ovarian cancer are called breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2). These genes also increase the risk of breast cancer.
• Other gene mutations, including those associated with Lynch syndrome, are known to increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
• Family history of ovarian cancer.People with two or more close relatives with ovarian cancer have an increased risk of the disease.
• Estrogen hormone replacement therapy,especially with long-term use and in large doses.
• Age when menstruation started and ended.Beginning menstruation at an early age or starting menopause at a later age, or both, may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.

• Abdominal bloating or swelling
• Quickly feeling full when eating
• Weight loss
• Discomfort in the pelvis area
• Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
• A frequent need to urinate

Many of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer can also be caused by other conditions.  Still, if you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed. If it is cancer, ignoring symptoms may lead to a reduced chance or effective treatment, and therefore reduced survival chances.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.

This is a type of cancer that occurs in the prostate, a small gland that produces seminal fluid in men.

• Your risk of prostate cancer increases as you age.
• For reasons not yet determined, black men carry a greater risk of prostate cancer than do men of other races. In black men, prostate cancer is also more likely to be aggressive or advanced.
• Family history.If men in your family have had prostate cancer, your risk may be increased. Also, if you have a family history of genes that increase the risk of breast cancer (BRCA1 or BRCA2) or a very strong family history of breast cancer, your risk of prostate cancer may be higher.
• Obese men diagnosed with prostate cancer may be more likely to have advanced disease that’s more difficult to treat.

Prostate cancer that’s more advanced may cause signs and symptoms such as:

• Trouble urinating
• Decreased force in the stream of urine
• Blood in semen
• Discomfort in the pelvic area
• Bone pain
• Erectile dysfunction

Many of the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer can also be caused by other conditions, including having an infection. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed. If it is cancer, ignoring symptoms may lead to a reduced chance or effective treatment, and therefore reduced survival chances.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.

This is a type of cancer that starts in the testicals, the organ that make male hormones and sperms.

• An undescended testicle (cryptorchidism).The testes form in the abdominal area during fetal development and usually descend into the scrotum before birth. Men who have a testicle that never descended are at greater risk of testicular cancer than are men whose testicles descended normally. The risk remains elevated even if the testicle has been surgically relocated to the scrotum.
• Still, the majority of men who develop testicular cancer don’t have a history of undescended testicles.
• Abnormal testicle development.Conditions that cause testicles to develop abnormally, such as Klinefelter syndrome, may increase your risk of testicular cancer.
• Family history.If family members have had testicular cancer, you may have an increased risk.
• Testicular cancer affects teens and younger men, particularly those between ages 15 and 35. However, it can occur at any age.
• Testicular cancer is more common in white men than in black men.

• A lump or enlargement in either testicle
• A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• A dull ache in the abdomen or groin
• A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
• Pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum
• Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts
• Back pain

Many of the signs and symptoms of Testicular cancer can also be caused by other conditions, including having an infection. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed. If it is cancer, ignoring symptoms may lead to a reduced chance or effective treatment, and therefore reduced survival chances.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.

• This is a type of cancer that occurs in the stomach.
• It begins in the mucus-producing cells that line the stomach.
• This type of cancer is usually referred to as “adenocarcinoma”

• A diet high in salty and smoked foods
• A diet low in fruits and vegetables
• Family history of stomach cancer
• Infection with Helicobacter pylori
• Long-term stomach inflammation
• Pernicious anemia
• Smoking
• Stomach polyps

• Fatigue
• Feeling bloated after eating
• Feeling full after eating small amounts of food
• Severe, persistent heartburn
• Severe indigestion that is always present
• Unexplained, persistent nausea
• Stomach pain
• Persistent vomiting
• Unintentional weight loss

Many of the signs and symptoms of stomach  cancer can also be caused by other conditions, including having an infection. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed. If it is cancer, ignoring symptoms may lead to a reduced chance or effective treatment, and therefore reduced survival chances.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.