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 16 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 2008 Alberta cancer statistics:

MALE & FEMALE CANCERS BELOW-THE-WAIST

Colorectal
-1705 Albertans were diagnosed with colorectal cancer (722 women, 983 men)
-631 Albertans died of colorectal cancer
-Approx. 1 in 14 males and 1 in 17 females will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime

Kidney
-379 Albertans were diagnosed with kidney cancer (150 women, 229 men)
-151 Albertans died of kidney cancer
-Approx. 1 in 56 males and 1 in 84 females will develop kidney cancer in their lifetime

Bladder
-308 Albertans were diagnosed with bladder cancer (62 women, 246 men)
-131 Albertans died of bladder cancer (38 women & 93 men)

MALE BELOW-THE-WAIST CANCERS

Prostate gland
-2180 Alberta men were diagnosed with prostate cancer
-345 men died of prostate cancer
-Approx. 1 in 6 males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 1 in 27 will die from it

Testicular
-120 Alberta men were diagnosed with testicular cancer
-3 men died of testicular cancer


FEMALE CANCERS BELOW-THE-WAIST

Endometrium
-375 Alberta women were diagnosed with endometrium cancer
-66 women died of endometrium cancer

Ovary
-196 Alberta women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer
-92 women died of ovarian cancer

Cervix uteri
-144 Alberta women were diagnosed with cervical cancer
-30 women died of cervical cancer

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!