Vim & Vigor - Summer 2018 - Parrish Medical Center - 51

EVENT

Get Answers to Your Cancer Questions
If you want to know more about cancer, including screenings and early detection, we can help. Meet the Parrish Cancer Center team on Aug. 9, from noon
to 1:30 p.m., at Parrish Healthcare Center at Port Canaveral. The event is
free, but seating is limited. Reserve your spot by calling 321-268-6110.

Unexplained Weight Loss

Skin Changes

Pain

A Thickening of
the Skin or a Lump

Most people with cancer will lose
weight. An unexplained weight loss
of 10 pounds or more may be the first
sign of cancer. This happens most often
with cancers of the pancreas, stomach,
esophagus (swallowing tube) or lung.

Fever

Fever is common with cancer, but it
more often happens after cancer has
spread from where it started. Almost
all people with cancer will have fever
at some time, especially if the cancer
affects the immune system.

Fatigue

Fatigue is extreme tiredness that
doesn't get better with rest. It might be
an important symptom as cancer grows.
But it might happen early in some cancers, such as leukemia.

Pain may be an early symptom with
some cancers, such as bone cancer or
testicular cancer. A headache that does
not go away or get better with treatment
might be a symptom of a brain tumor.
Back pain can be a symptom of cancer
of the colon, rectum or ovary.

Unusual Bleeding

Anytime you have unexplained bleeding, see your doctor right away.
Coughing up blood could mean lung
cancer, frequent nosebleeds could signal
leukemia and blood in the stool might
be a sign of colon cancer.

Along with skin cancers, other cancers
can cause skin changes. These signs and
symptoms include darker looking skin,
yellowish skin and eyes, reddened skin,
itching and excessive hair growth.

Many cancers can be felt through the
skin. Any lump that is new-whether
in your neck, stomach, breast or somewhere else-needs to be examined. It's
important to be familiar with your body.

Change in a Wart or Mole

Any wart, mole or freckle that changes
color, size or shape or that loses its
sharp border should be seen by a
doctor right away. About 1 million
Americans develop skin cancer each
year, making it the most common form
of cancer in the U.S., according to the
National Cancer Institute. ■

THE POWER OF SCREENINGS
Being in tune with your body and keeping your doctor apprised of changes are
important. "Be proactive in managing your health," says Cecil Robertson, MD, a
hematologist/oncologist at Parrish Cancer Center. "Follow recommended guidelines for screenings and other early-detection methods."
In the days before mammograms, he adds, "early detection was when a woman
found a lump during a self-exam. Today, cancer is caught much earlier with mammography. However, the self-exams are still necessary."
Marsha Richardson, director of oncology services at Parrish Medical Center,
agrees. "Early detection for cancer allows for earlier treatment, which increases
chances of survival," she says.
Early detection is key in cancer care. If you identify cancer soon enough, most of
the time it can be treated or cured.

Marsha Richardson,
Director of
Oncology Services
at Parrish Medical
Center

Cecil Robertson,MD,
Hematologist/
Oncologist at
Parrish Cancer
Center

SUM ME R 2018

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