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The World Health Organization (WHO), in an effort to increase cancer and anti-tobacco use efforts, has just recently announced that they will no longer be hiring those who smoke or use tobacco products on a regular basis.

But those smokers who were hired by WHO before this came about should not worry about not punching in their time card with the time clock, as they will not be terminated by their employers. But WHO is now prohibiting their employees from smoking on WHO grounds and property.

It’s a refreshing bit of news that the WHO is now trying to send a message to the world that they are committed to protecting the health of the world.

One may think of cancer as something that will never happen to them, something that isn't their problem, but the truth is that cancers are becoming more common as the years go by, basically due to the modern ways of life and the many factors that can cause these cancers.

Today we'll discuss five of the most common cancers and give a brief description of each.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, but fortunately most are easily treatable. It is caused by overexposure to the sun; so keeping out of it will help prevent its onset.

Colorectal cancer is known by many names, like colon cancer, bowel cancer or rectal cancer. It is thought to be caused by our greedy consumption of fast food, so think again before you supersize that meal.


Breast cancer not only occurs in females, but in males as well. A thorough, yearly breast exam is crucial in detecting this cancer before it starts.

Prostate cancer is exclusive to men, and a regular check-up of the prostate is important, especially if you're getting along in years.

Lung cancer is a common cancer, and probably the best known due to aggressive campaigns against smoking, one of its primary causes.

A wise man once said that knowing the enemy is a crucial part of winning a battle. By knowing the most common cancers, we can prevent their occurrence and win our war against it.

While fighting cancer can result in a remission, for some the fight may just be too hard and too tiring, and at last, they are forced to give in. They fought long and hard, and have nothing to be ashamed of, but their condition was too tough and too difficult, and thus they pass on, leaving for a better place.

But what about those left behind? They too, are in pain from the loss. And the process of grieving that loss may be long and hard. Here are some tips to help you through the grieving process.

First, you have to accept that the pain you feel is real and it's all right to feel it. You've suffered a terrible loss, and it's ok to feel bad. That's part of the healing process.

Hard as it may be, we will have to learn how to live without the deceased. We all have to move on and grow from our experiences. We will have to put our beloved ones in a safe place in our hearts and move on. Don't let the memory box you in, but don't completely let go of their memory, either.

Being obese is a big enough health problem, but aside from the risk of heart disease and diabetes, being obese also increases the risk of developing cancers, particularly prostate, colon, breast, endometrial and lung cancer.

It is recommended that morbidly obese individuals take immediate steps to lose at least 10% of their bodyweight to stave off disease. Even a 30-minute walk can do wonders for the body if done regularly.

In addition, those who exercise regularly experience a heightened sense of worth and self-image, and with exercise come the increase in metabolism which can help people keep off the pounds. So, learn to exercise every day to keep cancer at bay!

Cruciferous vegetables count broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts among their members. They are classified as being in the cabbage family.

The reason why researchers at the American Cancer Society recommend these vegetables is because they are thought to contain chemicals that can help prevent colorectal cancer, one of the most common cancers today. And being fibrous, they can also help clean up your digestive system.

But remember that all vegetables have beneficial nutrients, so don't just take one kind or family of vegetables; to paraphrase a famous toy line, you gotta try them all!

Breast cancer is a leading form of cancer, and one that, when detected early, can be fought off with relative success. The success in fighting this disease lies in its early detection.

One way to help in the early detection of breast cancer is in the use of a breast self-exam. This method has proven effective in detecting breast cancer early, and should be done by every woman often in order to diagnose whether or not the lump they might find in their breasts is malignant or not.

A breast self-exam often looks for abnormal lumps in the breasts, and also at whatever discoloration or spots that might appear on the breasts or nipples. If a lump or abnormal discoloration or pain is felt, it is imperative that the woman immediately seek the help of a doctor.

A growing number of cancer cases places the blame directly on the growing waistline of America, as the obese are accounting for roughly 10% of all cancer cases in the country. Thus, researchers have now definitely concluded that being overweight and obese can definitely increase the risk or cause cancer.

The study estimated that as much as 14% of all colon cancer cases could disappear if no one were obese or overweight. Likewise, some 11% of all breast cancer cases would be eliminated if obesity ceased to exist.

This study has highlighted the need to control the epidemic levels that obesity has reached in America. Something has to be done now to curb the excessive appetites of the normal American.

Childhood is a magical time for all of us. But sometimes, cancer rears its ugly head and strikes those who are most vulnerable to it, the youngest among us...and it's never a pretty thing.

Children, in fact, do get cancer. It's a fact. By increasing awareness about childhood cancer, we can reduce the mortality rate of childhood cancers. Also, by keeping an eye out for the following symptoms, childhood cancer can be treated early and give these poor souls a chance to survive.

Persistent nausea, vomiting, fever, headaches and fatigue are possible symptoms of childhood cancer, and therefore must be diagnosed by a doctor immediately. Also, unexplained weight loss, bruising and swelling, as well as lumps in the armpit, neck and throat are all danger signs which must be inspected by a physician immediately.

Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in American men and women today. While smoking is considered to be the leading cause of lung cancer, it can occur in people who have never smoked (via secondhand smoke) or in people with little or no cigarette smoke exposure.

It is expected that around 170,000 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year and that the average patient will be aged around 70, and will be in an advanced state of the disease. It is estimated that more than 150,000 people will die from the disease this year, and that 50% of those who are diagnosed are smokers or were smokers who quit decades ago.

If the message still isn't clear to you, let me spell it out: Smoking is bad for you. Period. So quit now while you're ahead, and don't make it any harder than it has to be for you.

A caregiver is a health professional trained to assist the ill in carrying out their normal, day-to-day activities as they progressively get sicker. They are there to provide help, comfort and companionship for the terminally ill and look after them when they aren't feeling up to par.

Caregivers are sometimes called "granny nannies" and while they do act sometimes like maids, they aren't. They're people like you and me, who have decided to dedicate their time and effort to care for the sick and give them comfort in the remaining time that they have. They are valuable workers who can prove to be a great help for those families that find it difficult to take care of family members because they live in different places.

It's a word every cancer patient would love to hear: Remission. For many people, remission means that a cancer has been cured and beaten. They can't be faulted for thinking that, as anyone who has cancer will take any good news for all it's worth. But remission doesn't automatically mean that a cancer has truly been cured.

There are two types of remission: Partial and Complete. Partial remission means that the number of cancer cells in a patient has been noticeably lessened and some cancer symptoms yet remain. A complete remission means that the signs and symptoms of a cancer can no longer be detected. This can either mean that the cancer is truly gone, or may be present in another part of the body.

Whatever the real meaning of a remission is, it serves another purpose: Merely hearing it gives a patient hope. And that is perhaps the most important thing a patient can have.

Telling your loved ones about being afflicted with cancer is perhaps one of the most difficult things a cancer patient can do. Just uttering the words "I have cancer" can open a floodgate of emotions that you would normally keep inside of you in other, calmer circumstances.

Telling your spouse that you have cancer is perhaps the most important and primary thing you can do, as they will most likely be the one to give you the support you need before, during and after treatment. If you have children, patience is needed, as they are young and may not fully understand the seriousness of the situation. Family and friends should be given the straight feed and not be sent on a wild goose chase regarding whether or not you have cancer. They will, after all, compose your support group in the days to come.

We've often heard of cancer, but do we really know what it is? For sure, we know it's a disease, and can be very deadly and fatal, but how does it happen? Is it caused by bacteria, virus or some other foreign body?

Cancer is, in its simplest form, the result of cells being mass produced in overdrive mode. This result in a mass of extra tissue or cells called a tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors do not spread and can be removed successfully. Malignant tumors contain cells that can spread and infect other body organs and tissues. So when we say that cancer eats away at a person, it actually means that the cancer is slowly taking over by mass-producing itself, taking away much needed nutrients away from the body's other processes.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, or didn't you know? This is the month we should make that extra effort to promote awareness about breast cancer among women, and men as well. The more people know and understand about this disease, the faster a cure will be found.

Now is the month you should encourage all the women in your life to self-examine their breasts for any lump or malformation, and to have a mammogram, if needed as well. If you see a pink ribbon at a local clinic, it means that their rates for mammograms and other breast cancer detection are discounted, all in honor of this special month for breast cancer victims.

Have you worn your pink ribbon today?

How do you deal with having a loved one slowly losing to this terrible disease? We all have our own unique coping mechanisms that try and help us get through traumatic events. Each person copes differently to such difficult situations.

Some of us just bury ourselves in our work. Others can't work at all.

Some cry their eyes out. Others remain as still as stone, but on the inside, they too, cry.

Others joke and laugh their way through. Others face it with all the seriousness they can muster.

Some deny it from their presence, as if it could change anything. Others accept their fate, but wrongly resign themselves to it.

How do you cope?

Children and cancer should, in a perfect world, be mutually exclusive; They should have no business with each other. Unfortunately, this is not the case. One of the hardest things anyone, parent, uncle, friend or doctor, can do is to tell a child they have cancer.

A child should be told they have cancer before the treatments start. This will help them deal with the discomfort and exhaustion often seen as side effects of these treatments. How, and when to tell them is definitely a matter for the parent or legal guardian to decide. But what is important is to let them know that they are sick.

Exactly what to tell a child depends on their age. Keep in mind their level of thinking, and always keep things simple. Children will often blame themselves for their misfortune. It is important to tell them that having cancer wasn't their fault, and they will get through it one way or another.

As cancer progresses, some patients will need the services of a specialized worker. These workers are called caregivers, and these highly trained individuals are assigned to people with special needs, like cancer patients, and these caregivers assist and make them live as full a life as possible, by seeing to it that they are given the proper care they deserve.

But we have to remember that these are people too, with their own lives and needs. Here are some tips to make the caregiver feel that they are cared for, too.

First, caregivers also need some time off, like all people with occupations. Make sure they take it; it'll help them work better.

Avoid isolating them or the patient. Isolation can lead to depression, and that's one can of worms you don't want to open.

One more thing: Keep a positive attitude! Optimism is contagious, and should be spread to everybody.

HPV or the Human Papilloma Virus is considered to be a sexually transmitted disease. It is primarily transmitted through genital, oral and anal sexual contact. It can cause small warts to appear in the genital region, although there is only a small number (around 30) of the more than 100 types of HPV that cause such symptoms.

HPV in itself is not life threatening, but its presence may increase the risk of certain cancers, especially of the genital region. This is why most doctors urge women to have a pap smear at least annually, even more so if they are sexually active. And it's not only the women who are vulnerable. Even males are at risk from this virus' complications.

Getting cancer, although traumatic, is something that can happen even to the best of us, from the highest paid employee, to the bum scrounging for scraps in the dumpster.

But having cancer should not stop you from being gainfully employed, and you cannot be terminated for having it. Also, your employer must treat you fairly during the time you are undergoing treatment, by giving you equal compensation and benefits. This is all guaranteed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This makes the discrimination of any employee, for whatever medical reason, an illegal act.

If you feel that you, as a person with cancer, have been discriminated against, you should contact the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Getting cancer is sometimes an unavoidable fact for some people. But many types of cancer can be easily avoided and knowing what puts you at risk will surely help you from getting diagnosed with this terrible condition.

Tobacco is the leading cause of lung cancer, and it doesn't stop there. The kidneys, cervix, pancreas and stomach all become prone to cancer as a result of smoking. Learning to stop early increases your chances of survival.

You family tree might make you more vulnerable to cancer, especially if your clan has a history of the disease. But keep in mind that a family history of the disease doesn't automatically mean that you're going to develop it. It means that you're just more vulnerable than most.

Lack of exercise, which can lead to obesity, can cause many cancers. The fitter you are, the less likely you are to develop cancer.

Environmental factors also play a role in the likelihood of an individual's development of cancer. The more exposed to carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) a person is, the more vulnerable to cancer he becomes.

Unsafe sex can also lead to many illnesses, and cancer is a possible one. A sexually-transmitted virus (HPV) increases the likelihood of developing cervical, vaginal, anal and vulvar cancers.

Lastly, sun overexposure can lead to skin cancer, but it is one of the easiest to prevent. Using sunscreen and staying out of the sun when it's at it's strongest is one of the most effective ways to avoid developing skin cancer.

President Bush has recently declared that September of 2005 is National Prostate Cancer Awareness month. To this end, President Bush has pledged more than $350 million to help the National Cancer Institute (NCI) research and combat this disease.

The President and the NCI urge men who are most susceptible to the disease to have a check-up and determine whether or not they are at risk, and to have them treated for it in the event that they are tested positive for prostate cancer.

The President also commended those who research and educate the public about this disease and help combat it.

There has been a hot debate on whether or not a piece grilled meat can cause cancer. Some say it can, while others say it cannot. But according to the American Cancer Society, grilled meats can and do pose a health risk, especially when the meat is burnt or well done.

At high temperatures, the amino acids in meat break down. These acids then become carcinogens, which can cause cancer. It then follows that the more of grilled meat you consume, the more your risk of cancer will rise.

Doctors advise to cut down on grilled meats and even deep fried meats. The substitution of vegetables instead of meat on the barbecue grill not only makes for a colorful meal, but a tasty change as well.

Like all the good things in life, moderation is the key.

Colon or colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of all cancer deaths in the United States. Colon cancer develops from polyps, benign tumors found in the large intestines. These are usually harmless, but sometimes due to some factors, these polyps become malignant, and they develop into cancers. It is recommended that polyps, when found, be removed as soon as possible to avoid the progression to colon cancer.

The causes of colon cancer are many and varied. They can range from diet to the afore-mentioned polyps to a newly-discovered genetic cause. The symptoms of colon cancer are just as varied and numerous. These include fatigue, shortness of breath, weight loss, change in bowel habits, narrow stools, diarrhea or constipation, red or dark blood in stool, abdominal pain or bloating.

If you suspect you have colon cancer or have any of these unexplainable symptoms, visit your doctor immediately. Or you might soon need more than your bran muffin to move you.