The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, along with cancer centers and other organizations across the nation, recognizes and promotes awareness of three cancer types during the month of September. These cancer types are:
- Gynecologic (GYN) Cancer
- Blood Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
These cancers affect the female reproductive system. There are many forms of gynecologic cancers, with the most prominent being ovarian, endometrial/uterine, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancer. Each has its own signs, symptoms, risk factors and occurrence rates with ovarian cancer being the most common and vaginal being the rarest among the five. There are many specific forms of cancer within each type, making it imperative to be treated by a cancer specialist who is fully focused on gynecologic (GYN) cancers.
Blood cancers include leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. They occur in blood forming cells, bone marrow and the lymphatic system, a part of the immune system. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, someone in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer every three minutes with lymphoma making up about 48 percent of cases, leukemia 34 percent and myeloma 18 percent.
Because there are many kinds of blood cancer, symptoms and treatments vary. At Karmanos, blood cancers are treated by the Malignant Hematology Multidisciplinary Team, which focuses solely on these types of cancer.
Prostate cancer occurs only in men and affects the prostate, a walnut-sized reproductive organ located behind the bladder. It is the most common non-skin cancer in males. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2020, roughly 192,000 new cases of prostate cancer will occur, resulting in more than 33,000 deaths. African Americans, men older than 50, those with a high-fat diet and men with a family history of prostate cancer are at an increased risk. Early stage prostate cancer usually does not have any symptoms. If a symptom does occur, it is most commonly trouble with urination.
Specialized Care at Karmanos
If you have been diagnosed with or believe you may have a gynecologic, blood or prostate cancer, it is important to be seen by a team of specialists who focus solely on your type of cancer. At Karmanos, our Multidisciplinary Teams includes oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, surgeons, pharmacists, specialized nurse practitioners, dietitians, social workers and genetic counselors. These teams share their collective expertise to provide care options for each patient, giving you the power to optimize your cancer treatment and receive outstanding care that suites your lifestyle and provides your best chance in the fight against cancer.
Additionally, Karmanos is home to one of the largest and best clinical trials programs in the United States, giving patients better access to new cancer treatments. Clinical trials provide access to interventions that are on the very cutting edge of development, as the primary method used by researchers to create new, life-saving cancer treatments. Our patients have access to more than 250 promising new cancer treatments, many of which are only available at Karmanos Cancer Institute. Through clinical trials, we are creating new knowledge about how therapies fight cancer and provide national leadership in testing these new therapies.
To learn more about the life-saving innovations and treatments available at Karmanos Cancer Institute, or to schedule an appointment visit Karmanos.org or call 1-800-KARMANOS.