A Cause for Exposure

The Alberta Cancer Foundation needs your help to raise funds and unleash a voice for devastating yet “hidden” cancers like prostate, colorectal, ovarian, testicular, bladder, cervical, and uterine that may affect you or someone you know.

Participation in the Underwear Affair helps lift the taboo connected with cancers below the waist.  Why are these cancers considered “taboo”? These cancers affect areas of the body that may be uncomfortable to talk about and that are often seen as embarrassing or shameful. Some people may not even want to see a physician to get screened for these types of cancers. This makes care and treatment an unexplored option to some of those who need it. Shedding light on these cancers means more awareness and more funding, making research and treatment a reality.  

Proceeds from the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s Underwear Affair support research and patient programs at the Cross Cancer Institute here in Edmonton and 15 other cancer centres throughout the province.

These cancers account for 33% of all newly diagnosed cancers in Alberta each year. The goal is to uncover cures putting prostate, colorectal, ovarian, cervical and other cancers below the waist, behind us.

The Underwear Affair is helping to shed some light on these often hidden and under-funded cancers.

If you’re still not convinced to register, consider these 2007 Alberta cancer statistics:

MALE & FEMALE CANCERS BELOW-THE-WAIST

Colorectal
-1651 Albertans were diagnosed with colorectal cancer (734 women & 917 men)
-633 Albertans died of colorectal cancer (292 women & 341 men)
-Colorectal cancer accounted for 11.29% of all Alberta cancer deaths

Kidney
-401 Albertans diagnosed with kidney cancer (151 women & 250 men)
-117 Albertans died of kidney cancer (43 women & 74 men)
-Kidney cancer accounted for 2.09% of all Alberta cancer deaths

Bladder
-277 Albertans were diagnosed with bladder cancer (71 women & 206 men)
-131 Albertans died of bladder cancer (38 women & 93 men)
-Bladder cancer accounted for 2.34% of all Alberta cancer deaths

MALE BELOW-THE-WAIST CANCERS

Prostate gland
-1994 Alberta men diagnosed with prostate cancer
-311 men died
-Prostate gland cancer accounted for 10.42% of all Alberta male cancer deaths

Testicular
-102 Alberta men diagnosed with testicular cancer
-3 men died
-Testicular cancer accounted for 0.10% of all Alberta male cancer deaths

FEMALE CANCERS BELOW-THE-WAIST

Endometrium
-373 Alberta women diagnosed with endometrium cancer
-66 women died
- Endometrium cancer accounted for 2.52% of all Alberta cancer female deaths

Ovary
-175 Alberta women diagnosed with ovarian cancer
-92 women died
-Ovarian cancer accounted for 3.51% of all Alberta cancer female deaths

Cervix uteri
-157 Alberta women diagnosed with cervical cancer
-31 women died
-Cervical cancer accounted for 1.18% of all Alberta female cancer deaths

For more information about the the Alberta Cancer Foundation, please visit  http://www.albertacancer.ca/.

Let’s not sit back and let those with these cancers suffer in silence. You can do your part by taking part in The Underwear Affair. Let’s expose this cause for what it’s worth and get active for cancers below the waist by running or walking in a race to uncover their cures!