Simply Sarah

You may or may not be aware that Monday Feb. 25th is National Cupcake Day! This event is raising money for local shelters, SPCA's, and Humane Societies in Canada.

For National Cupcake Day, bake cupcakes and give them to people that donate to the cause. The funds will go to animals that are abused, abandoned, neglected, or no longer wanted. Register on the website and you can create your own online bakery where you can track your funds.

There are numerous ways that you can help raise funds for animals in need. You could host a cupcake party, inviting your loved ones, colleagues, classmates, and ask them to donate a small amount of money. Or you could donate money to someone that is already throwing their own cupcake party!

I would normally host my own cupcake party, but since I am really busy with assignments and midterms, I am going to a local veterinary clinic that is hosting a cupcake party and will donate funds there.

$10 provides an enrichment toy for a cat which assists in their behavioural development
$50 subsidizes emergency boarding costs of the animal victims of domestic violence
$100 subsidizes medical treatment for an injured dog or cat
$200 keeps an inspector on the road fighting cruelty

Some of the participating societies include
Ontario SPCA Barrie Branch
Guelph Humane Society
Kingston Humane Society
PEI Humane Society
Sarnia Humane Society

For more information check out the website
http://support.ontariospca.ca/

Their facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/nationalcupcakeday

November is the month where you can grow a dirty stache for a good cause. The purpose of growing a moustache for Movember is to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. Now you might be wondering, what exactly is a prostate?

The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system. It adds nutrients and fluid to sperm. Normally the size of a walnut, the prostate can be divided into right and left "lobes." It is located in front of the rectum, just below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen through the penis.

The growth of cells in the prostate, both healthy and cancerous, is stimulated by testosterone. Male hormones, including testosterone, are produced almost entirely by the testicles, with only a small percentage produced by adrenal glands (small glands found just above the kidneys).

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to affect Canadian men. One in seven men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.

Prostate cancer is a disease where some prostate cells have lost normal control of growth and division. They no longer function as healthy cells.

A cancerous prostate cell has the following features:
•    Uncontrolled growth
•    Abnormal structure
•    The ability to move to other parts of the body (invasiveness).

It is important to note that not all clusters of cells growing in a mass are cancerous, and that a prostate with an irregular shape is not necessarily cancerous either. It is advisable to ask your doctor what it may be.

Prostate cancer can be slow-growing and some men who develop prostate cancer may live many years without ever having the cancer detected. It is important to get screened regularly so that if you do develop prostate cancer, the appropriate action can be taken. A significant proportion of prostate cancers, if untreated, may have serious consequences.

Who gets prostate cancer?

Age: The chance of getting prostate cancer rises quickly after a man reaches age 50. Age is the most important risk factor for prostate cancer.

Race: Prostate cancer is more common in men of African or Caribbean descent and less common in men of Asian descent.

Family history: Genetics plays a role - the risk of prostate cancer increases if close family members have had the disease.
Diet: Men who eat a low-fibre, high-fat diet have a higher rate of prostate cancer. Research suggests that saturated fat (commonly found in processed foods, whole-milk dairy products and fatty cuts of meat) increases the production of the hormone testosterone, which may help prostate cancer cells grow.

Lifestyle: Having a high Body Mass Index (BMI) may increase the risk of prostate cancer. Being physically active is a good preventative tactic, along with losing weight and eating the right foods. Consuming lycopene (found in tomatoes and tomato products), soy, green tea and cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli), among other foods and nutrients, may help to prevent prostate cancer.
It is possible to develop prostate cancer even when none of these risk factors is present.

Information courtesy of Prostate Cancer Canada - also check the website for information on how to know if you have prostate cancer, why testing is important, and much more - http://www.prostatecancer.ca/Prostate-Cancer/A---Answering-Your-Questions/The-Basics

Studies show that men are less likely to go to the doctors for a yearly physical checkup. This increases the risk for prostate cancer (and other cancers) to be terminal. Awareness is very important to encourage men to book an appointment and get checked.