Wednesday February 4th is World Cancer Day. Taking part in the day can mean many things, but Nevada Cancer Coalition uses it as a reminder for prevention, detection, and action.
Executive Director of the coalition, Cari Herington, says prevention means building healthy habits to support your body and keep it healthy. She says detection is a push to get recommended screenings, and to do at home exams as often as possible.
Action can include many things, like mobilizing a community to help reduce the burden of cancer on survivors and advocating for more access to care for everyone.
Herington says those actions will help reduce risk within a community.
Many put off their screenings, but experts say in many cases, it's easy to get them done with improvements in modern medicine.
For example, colorectal screenings can be started at home now. After a patient administers their screening, it gets sent off to a lab for the results to be read. If a patient tests positive, they'll need to see a doctor for next steps. If it's negative though, most patients won't need to do another until recommended by a doctor.Â
Experts also say mammograms are quicker and less painful than they used to be. Until 45-years-old, women are encouraged to do self-exams on their breast tissue, helping them identify any possible cancer earlier on. After 45, doctors say all women should undergo a mammogram and continue with their self-exams.
Nevada Cancer Coalition works to provide information and access to all and works through the legislative system to get more protections and access in place to help people impacted by cancer in the Silver State. To learn more about their mission and benefit from their initiatives, visit nevadacancercoalition.org.
It's a day to raise awareness and promote prevention, detection and mobilize support.
