Homework

10/16/07

Testicular and Cervical Cancer

Testicular cancer is not that common and is not considered as one of the more deadly forms of cancer because it is easily detected. Although if left untreated it can be deadly. So far scientists have been unable to figure out what causes testicular cancer which makes it so that they cannot prevent it. It is most common in men who are 25-45 years-old, after 75 it is uncommon. The symptoms are swelling, bumps, and pain in the stomach. A persons diet does not affect their risk of testicular cancer. It does run in families and if the testicles get twisted that can increase the risk of getting testicular cancer. Testicular cancer is easily spotted by someone who has it because it will form an irregular bump on one testical, if you think you may have it you should see a doctor. The treatment for someone who has testicular cancer is usually to have the testical removed. Most of the deaths caused by testicular cancer are because the person who has it doesn't want to admit it.

Cervical cancer is usually caused by HPV. It is a very common virus that is transmitted through sex, and can be carried by a male and have no affect on them, but then get spread to a female sex partner and cause cervical cancer. Smoking also increases the risk of cervical cancer. There is a vaccine that prevents against the types of HPV that commonly cause cancer. HPV will often cause no symtoms so it is hard to tell if a person has it, but then it can cause cervical cancer.

10/11/07
FCA's:
1) Completely describe the various methods of contraceptives discussed in class.
2) Using the pamphlets on how to discuss contraceptives with your parents and partner and write a response to both of these issues.
3) Write a response on what you think about who should be allowed to obtain contraceptives ( age related) and why.

Contraceptives

There are many different forms of contraceptives. Contraceptives can be over-the-counter or prescription. One of the most common ones is a condom, there are also female condoms. There are also spermicides which kill sperm, they come in creams, foam, and jellies. Another form of birth control is the sponge, it goes in the vagina and forms a barrier. Some prescription contraceptives are the pill, the patch, the ring, the shot, diaphrams, caps, and shields. The pill is taken by women daily and it gives them hormones. The patch is stuck to the body and releases hormones. The shot is hormones injected into the body. The ring is inserted into the vagina and then releases hormones. The implant is put under the skin and then releases hormones. Diaphrams, caps, and shields cover the cervix and release hormones. There are also Intrauterine Devices, they are inserted into the uterus. There is one type that contains hormones and one that is made of copper.

Many parents and their kids feel uncomfortable discussing sexual health with each other. Planned Parenthood suggests that parents should discuss things like contraceptives with their kids. I do not really think that this is necessary. If both the parents and kids want to discuss contraceptives then it should be done, but I don't really think that it is something that absolutely needs to be talked about with parents.

I think that contraceptives should be available to anyone who is old enough to become pregnant or to get someone pregnant. I don't think that offering contraceptives to younger people will increase the number of young people having sex. I think that if they are going to have sex then they are going to do it whether or not they have protection so it is better if they do have it. I think that it is good the places like planned parenthood distribute some contraceptives and I don't see why there should be laws restricting this.

10/8/07
Tobacco:
Help with Physical Addictions
One of the main ways to get rid of physical addiction to smoking is Nicotine Replacement Therapy(NRT). NRT is gives you nicotine without many of the other harmful things in cigarettes. This helps get rid of some of the cravings to smoke which 70-90% of smokers say are the reason that they can't quit. Some forms of NRT are gum, patches, sprays, and inhalers.
NRT's are helpful, but they are not usually the only thing that you should use to quit smoking. The psycological aspects of smoking should also be treated while you are using NRT's which doubles the chance that a person can quit smoking. NRT's should not be used by people who are pregnant or have heart or circulatory diseases. When using NRT's it is important not to overdose on nicotine because this can damage your cardiovascular health. NRT's can be used as soon as a person stops smoking. There is no type of NRT that is proven to be more effective, basically whichever type of NRT that a person is most comfortable with is the type that they should use. Combinations of NRT's can also be used which will give you a higher dose of nicotine. There are also some medicines that can help you quit smoking. They work by affecting the brain so that it does not want nicotine.

Sources:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_13X_Guide_for_Quitting_Smoking.asp?sitearea=&level=


10/7/06
FCA’s 1) What is it? 2) How do you get it? 3) What are the symptoms? 4) How can you know for sure? 5)How is it treated? 6) What can happen if you don’t take care of it?

STI’s

Genital Herpes

It is an infection caused by Herpes simplex virus. You can get it by sexual or skin to skin contact with someone who has it. The symptoms are painful sores and swollen glands. You can find out if you have it by a medical exam or a blood test. It is treated by medications that help with outbreaks, but it can't be cured. If it is not taken care of you can have bad outbreaks of sores, it can spread to other people, and from a mother to her child during birth.

Genital Warts

It is an infection from Human Papilloma Virus. You can get it by sexual or skin to skin contact with someone who has it. The symptoms are small cauliflower like bumps that grown in and around the genitals. You can know if you have it by getting a medical exam, or women can get a PAP test. There is no cure for it, but the warts that grow can be removed. If you don't take care of it the warts can spread, it can cause cervical cancer in women, it can be passed from a mother to her child during birth, and it can spread during sex.

Pubic Lice "crabs"

It is a parasite that lives in pubic hair. You can get it by sexual or skin to skin contact with someone who has it or by sharing towels, bedding, clothes... The symptoms are itching, lice eggs in pubic hair, and small dots of blood on underwear. You can find out if you have it by a medical exam. It is treated by a spacial shampoo. It may lead to a bacterial infection, it can spread to other people, and the symptoms will get steadily worse it you don't take care of it.

Chlamydia

It is a bacterial infection. You can get it by sexual with someone who has it. The symptoms for women are pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, and bleeding after intercourse. For men the symptoms are painful urination, and discharge from the penis. You can find out if you have it by a urine test or a discharge sample. It is treated with antibiotics. If you don't take care of it, it can lead to severe infections, infertility, getting passed from a mother to child during birth, and spread to sexual partners.

Gonorrhea

It is a bacterial infection. You can get it by sexual contact with someone who has it. The symptoms for women are pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, sore throat, fever, and blood/pus from the anus. The symptoms for men are painful urination, discharge, blood/pus from the anus, and sore throat. You can find out it you have it from a urine test. It it treated with antibiotics. If you don’t take care of it, it can lead to infertility, passing from a mother to child during birth, heart trouble, and skin issues.

Syphilis

It is a bacterial infection. You can get it from sex with someone who has it. The symptoms are sores on the mouth, penis, vagina, and anus. You can find out if you have it by an exam of the sores or a blood test. It is treated by antibiotics and possibly hospitalization. If you don’t take care of it, it can lead to rash, fever, hair loss, aches, sore throat, damage to heart/brain, damage to a fetus, and death.

HIV/Aids

It is a virus that damages the immune system. You can get it from sex with an infected person, breast mild, blood to blood contact, and sharing contaminated needles. The symptoms are fever, chills, weight loss, diarrhea, cough, fatigue, swollen glands, white spots in mouth, and blotches on skin. You can find out if you have it by a blood test of and orasure test. It is treated with a variety of medicines. If you don’t take care of it, it can lead to life threatening illnesses, it can spread from a mother to her children during birth, and it can spread to other people.