Interim Healthcare nurse Patricia Dezinski will present a program about cancer awareness at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. The public is invited to the free program.
Half of all men and one-third of all women in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. But survival rates are improving for many types of cancer, thanks to improvements in cancer screening and cancer treatment.
Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer also has the ability to spread throughout the body.
The body is made up of trillions of living cells. Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. During the early years of a person's life, normal cells divide faster to allow the person to grow. After the person becomes an adult, most cells divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells or to repair injuries.
Cancer starts when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer, but they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. In most cases the cancer cells form a tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia, rarely form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and blood-forming organs and circulate through other tissues where they grow.
Signs and symptoms caused by cancer will vary depending on what part of the body is affected. Some general signs and symptoms associated with, but not specific to, cancer include:
•Fatigue
•Lump or thickening that can be felt under the skin
•Weight changes, including unintended loss or gain
•Skin changes, such as yellowing, darkening or redness of the skin, sores that won't heal, or changes to existing moles
•Changes in bowel or bladder habits
•Persistent cough
•Difficulty swallowing
•Hoarseness
•Persistent indigestion or discomfort after eating
•Persistent, unexplained muscle or joint pain
Any of these symptoms warrant an appointment with the doctor.
Dezinski’s presentation will end with time for questions and answers.
The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent living and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
The class is free and open to the public. For more information contact Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.
