Sure, talking about cancers down there is embarrassing and even scary. Ignoring them won’t make them go away and reality can make them even scarier than the embarrassment.

So grow up! It’s time to take care of your whole self.

Here’s Your Reality Check

• Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers for men and women. This year, nearly 149,000 people will be diagnosed. But screening and early detection are the key to survival. There are now more than 1 million survivors in the United States today.
• Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer for men 20 to 35 but if it’s caught before it spreads outside the testicle, 99 percent of men survive.
• Ovarian cancer makes up only 3 percent of all cancers in women, but it’s the fifth-leading female cancer killer.
• About one in every six American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. Screenings and treatments save lives, though: More than 2 million men with prostate cancer in the U.S. are now survivors.
• Cervical cancer kills about 3,900 women in the United States and nearly 300,000 women worldwide every year. Yet it can be easily found before it spreads.

Start Talking About It

• Talk to your doctor about check ups and self tests that can catch cancers below the waist early, when they’re most treatable.
• They can tell you what kind of test you need and how often you need them depending on the risk factors that might affect you (family history, lifestyle, etc.)
• Talk to your friends, your parents and anyone you care about to get checked for cancers below the waist too.

We’re In The Fight To Save Your Life
City of Hope doctors, nurses, lab scientists and health experts know cancers below the waist aren’t going away quietly. Here are just a few of the steps we’re taking in the battle against these diseases:

• We’re developing potentially lifesaving drugs for ovarian cancer.
• We were among the first to discover the link between viruses and cervical cancer, setting the stage for new screening tests and vaccines.
• We’re hot on the trail of a better test to detect prostate cancer.
• We’re studying genes in rectal tumors to develop treatment strategies customized for each person’s cancer.
• We were one of the first centers to remove prostate cancer using high-precision robotic surgery, and we’re training other physicians in advanced surgical techniques to improve outcomes worldwide.

Join The Fight To Save Lives

• Volunteer at City of Hope; call 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 64049
• Donate online or call 800-720-6824