Spring Break
WAGE promotes cancer awareness
Expert shares ways college students can lower risk
Thomas Fountain
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Campus News
Don't think you're at risk for cancer? Ask Georgia Smith, and she'll tell you differently.
Smith, the Director of Cancer Services at Sacred Heart Hospital, spoke to students Monday about college students' risks of cancer and ways to lower those risks.
The speech, sponsored by UW-Eau Claire's Women's and Gender Equality organization, focused on the three most prevalent cancers in young people, according to Smith: skin, testicular and cervical.
Smith said she focused on those three cancers because they are the most preventable.
Skin cancer - which almost 75,000 people will be diagnosed with this year, according to the U.S. Cancer Foundation - is most prevalent in fair-skinned people, Smith said. Athletes and those who sunbathe and tan in booths are especially susceptible, she said.
The best ways to prevent skin cancer are using sunscreen, wearing hats when outside and not sunbathing for over 30 minutes, Smith said. She also said that a physician should look at any suspicious moles, discolorations or dry skin patches.
Risk of cervical cancer, Smith said, is directly related to HPV and herpes. The best way to prevent cervical cancer is to limit sexual partners, she said. She also said risk increases with age, but young women are still very susceptible.
Smith said symptoms of cervical cancer can be hard to detect, and the best way to treat it early is yearly tests by a physician.
Testicular cancer is most prevalent in athletes, Smith said, especially those who have been exposed to testicular trauma. Cyclists, motorcyclists and horseback riders are among the most at risk, she said.
Self-exams are the best way to catch early warning signs, Smith said, and young men should always wear protective gear when playing sports.
Overall, Smith said the best paths to prevention are through eating healthy, exercising and not engaging in harmful practices such as smoking and binge drinking.
"I'm saying the same things your mothers said when you were this small," Smith said, holding her hand up to her hip to show height. Smith also said education of these prevention steps is important.
Junior Carly Zubell said she feels somewhat educated about risks of cancers.
"I'm basic-high-school-health-class educated, I guess," she said.
Zubell said she feels university organizations do a good job of holding events such as Monday's speech, but it requires getting involved on an individual basis.
Smith said she was happy for the opportunity to speak to students about these risks because many students feel cancer is simply an "old person's disease."
"Some things are good to learn by experience," Smith said. "I don't want anyone to learn this lesson by experience."
Smith, the Director of Cancer Services at Sacred Heart Hospital, spoke to students Monday about college students' risks of cancer and ways to lower those risks.
The speech, sponsored by UW-Eau Claire's Women's and Gender Equality organization, focused on the three most prevalent cancers in young people, according to Smith: skin, testicular and cervical.
Smith said she focused on those three cancers because they are the most preventable.
Skin cancer - which almost 75,000 people will be diagnosed with this year, according to the U.S. Cancer Foundation - is most prevalent in fair-skinned people, Smith said. Athletes and those who sunbathe and tan in booths are especially susceptible, she said.
The best ways to prevent skin cancer are using sunscreen, wearing hats when outside and not sunbathing for over 30 minutes, Smith said. She also said that a physician should look at any suspicious moles, discolorations or dry skin patches.
Risk of cervical cancer, Smith said, is directly related to HPV and herpes. The best way to prevent cervical cancer is to limit sexual partners, she said. She also said risk increases with age, but young women are still very susceptible.
Smith said symptoms of cervical cancer can be hard to detect, and the best way to treat it early is yearly tests by a physician.
Testicular cancer is most prevalent in athletes, Smith said, especially those who have been exposed to testicular trauma. Cyclists, motorcyclists and horseback riders are among the most at risk, she said.
Self-exams are the best way to catch early warning signs, Smith said, and young men should always wear protective gear when playing sports.
Overall, Smith said the best paths to prevention are through eating healthy, exercising and not engaging in harmful practices such as smoking and binge drinking.
"I'm saying the same things your mothers said when you were this small," Smith said, holding her hand up to her hip to show height. Smith also said education of these prevention steps is important.
Junior Carly Zubell said she feels somewhat educated about risks of cancers.
"I'm basic-high-school-health-class educated, I guess," she said.
Zubell said she feels university organizations do a good job of holding events such as Monday's speech, but it requires getting involved on an individual basis.
Smith said she was happy for the opportunity to speak to students about these risks because many students feel cancer is simply an "old person's disease."
"Some things are good to learn by experience," Smith said. "I don't want anyone to learn this lesson by experience."
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