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Since March was Kidney Cancer Awareness Month, it inspired us to share a closer look at this disease that is among the top 10 most common cancers in men and women. Let us share with you some encouraging news about the latest advances in both understanding kidney cancer and the development of new treatment options.

Understanding Kidney Cancer Better

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States with more people being diagnosed each year than all other cancers combined. Knowing what to look for can help catch it early when it’s much easier to treat.

The Importance of Skin Cancer Self-Examination

When detected early, skin cancer is almost always curable. This is why getting to know your skin through regular self-exams is so important so that any new or changing marks or lesions can be caught quickly.

Lesions, ulcers, or tumors on the skin should be checked out by a skin cancer specialist right away.

The internet can be an extremely useful tool for people seeking information on specific healthcare topics like cancer. And while there is a lot of data out there to be read, it is important to keep in mind that not all online sources offer reliable information. We’ve come a long way when it comes to understanding cancer--yet many myths and misconceptions continue to leave people confused and searching for answers. Busting these cancer myths, and learning more about what has actually been proven, is a great way to get people closer to truly understanding this complex group of diseases known as cancer.

Here are 5 commonly held myths about cancer: 

Something every woman should know is that cervical cancer is almost always preventable. Understanding more about cervical health is the best action you can take to help prevent this kind of cancer. Here’s what you need to know.

What Causes Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus (womb) that connects to the vagina (birth canal). According to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, about 99% of cervical cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Making and implementing New Year’s resolutions that can improve your lifestyle while undergoing cancer treatment can seem too difficult to tackle. But it can be done! Working towards maximizing your emotional and physical strength during this time is an excellent  goal with long-term benefits.

There are several ways you can improve your lifestyle, helping you to better cope with the challenges involved in battling cancer. Here are five ideas and how you can incorporate them into your routine this new year.

A cancer caregiver, whether they are family or a friend, selflessly offers an unparalleled and irreplaceable gift. Caregivers are the most important members of a cancer patient's team on a day-to-day basis. They're the unsung heroes who are always willing to put their loved one's needs before their own.

Caregivers transport their loved one to all their cancer treatment appointments, as well as consults with the cancer specialists on a regular basis to ensure that the patient receives the best treatment and at-home care.

They can also be ensuring at-home care is being  attended to, and can be everything from making meals to cleaning and laundry – taking over for the things the cancer patient may have normally done for the family.

What is the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout? It's an annual event, held the third Thursday of every November, a date on which smokers nationwide are asked to give up smoking. This year, 2017, that means it’s on November 16th. Quitting for just one day helps you take action toward a healthier life, and reduce your lung cancer risk.

Each year, the Great American Smokeout calls attention to the deaths, lung cancer diagnoses and other chronic diseases that smoking causes, and how to prevent them. As a result of this event, there have been actions taken towards reducing the health impacts that smoking can have on smokers and non-smokers including:

• Many states and local governments have banned smoking in restaurants, public spaces, and workplaces.
• Increased taxes on cigarettes
• Limiting of cigarette advertisements and product placements.

What you eat while going through cancer treatment is often a bit different from a typical diet. Partly this is because of the different side effects patients experience before, during, and after cancer treatments. Food many not sound enticing, or the nausea brought on by treatment could make it especially hard to eat regularly. Additionally some patients undergoing cancer treatments report less saliva in their mouths, also called dry-mouth, that can make it unpleasant to eat. However, it's still really important that patients take in the right amount of calories so they can keep up their strength and avoid dropping to an unhealthy weight.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, making it a great time to learn a little more about breast cancer screenings for yourself or a loved one. The information below will help you better understand why mammograms are important, other potential screening methods, when you should be screened and what can be done if someone needs a mammogram but cannot afford one. This knowledge can help you be better informed so you can share it with others this October, as well as the rest of the year.