April is Esophageal, Oral, Head & Neck, and Testicular Cancer Awareness Month.

Esophageal cancer is in the tube connecting the throat and the stomach. It starts in the inner layers and moves outward. There are two main kinds- squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinomas which occurs mainly in the lower esophagus. There are risk factors for esophageal cancer and can be linked to tobacco, alcohol, diet or excess body weight. Check with your doctor if you have trouble swallowing, chest pain, weight loss or if you notice other unusual problems in your throat and upper digestive tract.

Oral, Head & Neck cancers commonly refer to those that appear in the lips, mouth, nasal cavity, salivary glands, sinuses, throat, thyroid, tongue and voice box. These account for 6% of all cancers in the United States according to the American Cancer Society. HPV (human papillomavirus) looks to be a cause of rising oral cancer rates in young people. Tobacco and alcohol are the leading causes of mouth and voice box cancers. Using both of them at the same time leads to a much greater than using each individually. Symptoms of oral cancer can include mouth sores that don’t heal, sore throat, red or white lumps or patches in your mouth, trouble swallowing, voice changes or a lump in your neck. People with constant nose bleeds, or numbness, swelling or pain around their cheeks and noses should be evaluated.

Testicular cancer develops in one or both testicles primarily in younger men, but can happen in older men. See your physician if you notice an enlarged testicle, a lump, swelling or pain. It can extend into other parts of the body such as pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, chest pain, groin or in even your breasts from hormones.

Please note that this is general awareness information and not a substitute for actual, personal advice from a medical professional.
You should visit your physician for an individual evaluation.