Common cliches say age doesn’t matter unless it pertains to cheese or wine.

But what about cancer?  Does age matter?

Think about it for a moment.  When you were younger, you mostly heard about only older, grey haired grammies and grandpas getting cancer, right?  You never heard of anyone under the age of 50 battling cancer.  Doesn’t it seem that recently more and more young people are being diagnosed with cancer?

Your best friend’s mom has breast cancer – she’s 44.

Your neighbor’s son has leukemia – he’s 6.

Your nurse’s daughter has colon cancer – she’s 35.

Your uncle died of esophogheal/stomach cancer – he was 42.

Your college roommate battled bone cancer – she is 21.

Why do you think these multiple young cancer diagnoses are happening?

•  Is it bad luck?
• Is it genetics?
• Is it our environment?
• Is it the constant chemicals in our daily lives?
• Is it our diet?
• Lack of exercise?

Bad luck, well, contrary to what one may think at diagnosis – bad luck is not a viable cause for cancer.  Surprisingly, genetics may play a factor in higher risks for certain types of cancers, but typical statistics show that many cancers are NOT genetically caused.

Many types of cancer are caused by environmental factors.

Perhaps the food we consume (many processed foods and fast foods are laden with carcinogens) – check out some healthy anti-angiogenic foods here:  http://www.culinate.com/columns/health+food/antiangiogenic_foods;

Several of our daily exposures to cleaning products are increasing our risks factors – see more here:  http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/; and

Voluntary activities such as sun-tanning and smoking certainly contribute to increased cancer rates,especially when coupled with a lack of exercise – see some exercise tips here:  http://15-40.org/reduce_risk/get-exercise.

Learn how to maximize your health and reduce your risks – check out “Stay Healthy” on the 15-40 Connection website here:  http://15-40.org/reduce_risk/

We would love to see you age in cheese years or become that vintage wine!

What do Lindsay  Lohan, Britney Spears, Johnny Depp, Kate Moss, Kate Hudson, Ryan Gosling and President Obama have in common?

Sure, they are all famous – but that’s not the answer we are looking for.

No, we do not think they have all been in jail or had run-ins with the law.

Everyone one of them has been photographed, caught IN the action…….they smoke cigarettes!  (Except President Obama claims to no longer smoke).

Do you think smoking is cool?  Maybe you and a few friends are sitting around chatting and one of you lights up – before you know it you are all socially smoking.  Perhaps you are out on the town for a night out and cigarettes are being passed to all of you?

Did you know:  cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of illness and death in the United States?  It is true.

Here are some of the short term side effects of smoking (http://www.drugs.com/cg/cigarette-smoking-and-its-health-risks.html):

• Bad breath.
  Bad smell in your clothes, hair, and skin.
  Decreased ability to play sports or do physical activities because of breathing problems.
  Earlier than normal wrinkling of the skin, usually the face.
  Higher risk of bone fractures, such as hip, wrist, or spine.
  Higher risk of starting a fire. This may happen if you fall asleep with a lit cigarette.
  Men may have problems having an erection.
  Sleeping problems.
  Smoking is an expensive (costly) habit. You will save money if you choose to stop smoking.
  Sore throat.
  Staining of teeth.

Eeew.  How cool is bad breath or yellow teeth?  Check out some disturbing visuals here:  http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/ss/slideshow-ways-smoking-affects-looks

Did you know the long term effects of smoking?  Sure, you say – lung cancer, everyone knows that!  Smoking does cause lung cancer but it also contributes to a wide array of health problems including:  cancer of the lips, mouth, throat, or voice box.  Smokers also have a higher risk of getting esophagus, stomach, kidney, pancreas, cervix, bladder, and skin cancer.

Brand a new kind of cool – avoid cigarettes and encourage your friends to do so as well!  Your body will thank you – now and in the future.  Find other ways to stay healthy through 15-40 Connection here:  http://15-40.org/reduce_risk/

Let’s talk about your balls, boys!  What?  You do already?  Well, let’s talk about them some more!

Do you want to know how to SAVE THE BALLS?  Let 15-40 Connection help!

Did you know testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in men between the ages of 15 and 34?  Did you know it occurs most frequently in men between the ages of 20 and 39?

Testicular cancer is one of the MOST treatable forms of cancer.  With early detection, the cure rates approach nearly 100%.

First, the most common signs and symptoms of testicular cancer may be found here:  http://15-40.org/testicular_cancer_facts/

Next, while you are playing baseball, football or foosball on a regular basis – add your own balls to the mix.  Beginning at age 15, you should be conducting your own monthly testicular self-exam.  Learn how to do it here:  http://15-40.org/testicular_self_exam/

Now, what would you do if you found something different about your testicle?  Would you tell your parents?  Would you contact your doctor right away?  Chances are you would be too embarrassed or too uncomfortable to talk about it, right?

There is a real life story about a college student who was embarrassed, too!  He successfully fought testicular cancer after he let his mother know that his body was not
right – read about him here:   http://15-40.org/story/Alex_Lizotte

Your parents, your primary care physician and an urologist are there to help you and it’s up to you!  Most testicular cancers are found by men themselves when they do a self-examination or by accident.  You are your best resource – so make sure you memorize your balls as well as you know the rosters of all your favorite ball players!

Did you know that experts are calling green the new IT color this spring?

 Yes, multiple shades of green are hitting the mainstream!  Some greens are much sexier than others, while some instantly provoke “oohs” and “eews” from onlookers.  Does your favorite green include ruffled edges interspersed with slight variations of purple and white; or maybe your preferred shade is spiked with red fibers? Perhaps you like softer textures and paler color palettes in your earthen green hues?

No, we are not talking about the spring fashion runway here! We are talking about leafy greens! Yes, green vegetables made by that fashionable and industry expert herself: Mother Nature!  Mother Nature can surely help you supplement your dietary wardrobe, much like Stacy and Quintin do on TLC’s “What Not To Wear”.  Instead of telling you what not to eat, how about you venture into your dressing room and try on some of these greens for yourself! Maybe that extra curly, super nutritious kale is not flattering enough for your tastes. Be bold, try on that swiss chard instead – you may be surprised, the glossy texture and unusual color may very likely enhance your body!  Everyone likes the iceberg lettuce trend, so jump off that bandwagon and blaze your own trail by adding arugula to your repetoire!

Not only is it the current trend to indulge in green, there are many nutritional benefits to consume greens, including the likely prevention of several illnesses, including cancer. See the top ten rated greens here: http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthy-kitchen-11/leafy-greens-rated.

In fact, cancer research also proves that green leafy vegetables will very likely reduce your risk for recurrence, especially in breast cancer.  Read more about the study here:  http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-05/health-wellness/31286038_1_cancer-survivors-breast-cancer-recurrence.

Not to be underdone, the color orange is also hot this spring!  http://www.squidoo.com/sharsspringsummerfashion.

Neon orange is screaming for attention – would you like to get noticed?

Stand out amongst the crowd!  Be fashionable by wearing orange this season and build awareness for 15-40 Connection at the same time!  Protect your health in more ways than one:  after trying on your greens, spread the word to protect your health in blazing shades of orange!  Build your  wn “orange” expert team, a team knowledgeable in early detection and better choices, by becoming a 15-40 Ally today!  More information can be found here:  http://15-40.org/become_an_ally/.

“I never loved another person the way I loved myself.” ― Mae West

Here are some simple ways you can truly love yourself:

• Learn how to speak up for yourself.
• Make your own decisions about your own life.
• Learn how to get information so that you can understand things that are of interest to you.
• Find out who will support you in your journey.
• Knowing your rights and responsibilities.
• Listen, learn and problem solve.
• Reach out to others when you need help and friendship.
• Learn about self-determination.

Self-advocacy can apply to numerous areas of your life.  Whether it’s a relationship break-up; or perhaps a critical medical decision – speaking up and becoming empowered about yourself is truly the best manner you can love yourself.  You deserve it.

Only you can truly understand your needs, your strengths and being able to communicate these goals to others.  Your success in life depends upon you!

Learn to trust your inner voice.  You must listen to and stop second guessing your own intuition!

When things do not seem right or feel right to you, there’s a reason for it.  If everyone around you is ok with something, but it does not sit well with you, listen to your gut.  It will never steer you wrong.

Spring is here!  Time for robins and daffodils, short sleeves and shorts; which means something else as well:  prom season and bathing suit weather is not far behind.  The question begs:  how do you prepare the winter body you hid behind sweaters and parkas all winter? 

• Do you use a tanning bed to bronze up that pasty white skin? 

• Perhaps you have gotten your professional pedicure for perfectly pretty toes to peek through those new gladiator sandals?  
• What about that Brazilian Blowout for humidity resistant, sleek and straight hair over the next four months? 

What other things do you include in your repertoire to ensure you will look the best that you can over the summer?

Does how you look now outweigh a possible chance of illness in the future? 

Did you know the cumulative damage caused by UV radiation (tanning) can lead to premature skin aging (wrinkles, saggy skin, brown age spots, and more), as well as skin cancer.   Indoor tanners are 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors.

Did you know that a key ingredient in the Brazilian Blowout is formaldehyde?  According to the FDA, formaldehyde is extremely dangerous and a known carcinogen.  In fact, it was once used as an embalming agent to preserve corpses!

The price of beauty does not have to be years off your life, now or in the future. 

What changes can you make for better health?