In today’s broadcast, a student group’s generosity makes a big impact on a local agency. It’s never too early to check for cancer, as rates in Minnesota go up for some age groups. And help for those dealing with impact of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Transcript
[sound element: NSS intro theme]
HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
ANCHOR: In today's broadcast, a group of students' generosity makes a big impact on a local agency. It's never too early to check for cancer, as rates in Minnesota go up for some age groups. And help for those dealing with impact of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
I'm Gracie J.
Students at Mayo High School in Rochester raised 20- thousand dollars for the Women's Shelter and Support Center. The effort is part of the school's annual "Give One For All" campaign that supports services for survivors of domestic violence. The action is part of a broader tradition of community giving among Rochester high schools. Since 2012, Mayo students have raised more than two hundred thousand dollars for the organization. The shelter's Executive Director called the students' generosity a source of hope for survivors.
Next, Cancer rates in Minnesota are increasing in a particular age group. Reporter Britt Aamodt talks with a cancer epidemiologist about how early-onset cancers are on the rise and for which populations.
Britt Aamodt
Cancer rates are rising in young people in Minnesota and across the United States.
Margee Brown
This is actually a trend that's happening even globally, kind of for different reasons than for in the United States.
Britt Aamodt
Margee Brown is a cancer epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health's state cancer registry.
Margee Brown
Part of the global reason is that there's better reporting than there used to be in certain areas. But yeah, it is something we're watching. There's a lot of unknowns as to why this might be happening, and it really can vary by the age group the types of cancers.
Britt Aamodt
This group spans, the ages of 15 to 39, which the MDH breaks down into three subgroups. It has noted increases in each of those.
Margee Brown
Even within that age breakdown of 15 to 39, the cancers vary. So for like 15- to 19-year-olds, the more common cancers that are diagnosed in that age group are thyroid cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, brain and central nervous system tumors and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Whereas in the 20-to-29-year age group, again, we're seeing thyroid cancer. We also see testicular cancer, melanoma and Hodgkin lymphoma. And in 30- to 39-year-olds, we see some breast cancer again, thyroid cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer and testicular cancer for males.
Britt Aamodt
Researchers are investigating potential causes of this uptick in early-onset cancers, things like obesity, alcohol consumption, inflammation and environmental factors like micro plastics, tiny bits of plastic that break off from larger plastics. This happens every time you wash clothes that are made from synthetic fabrics, for example.
Margee Brown
Scientists have found them in many parts of the body, even including the brain. One thing I think is important for people to know is that if you're microwaving your food, reheating it, it's best to do it in some type of a glass, not a plastic.
Britt Aamodt
There are also more cervical cancer diagnoses in the 30 to 39 age group, with the mortality rate for females who are American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic, three times higher compared to all females in the state. Nationally, Minnesota ranks 11th in the number of HPV vaccines administered, with over 69% of youth, ages 13 to 17, getting fully vaccinated.
Margee Brown
And that's really important to point out. Because the HPV vaccine, it really does protect almost entirely against cervical cancer, like there really should be nobody diagnosed with cervical cancer if they get the HPV vaccine. And it's not only cervical cancer, it's also protective for males.
Britt Aamodt
For North Star stories, this is Britt Aamodt.
ANCHOR
You are listening to North Star Stories.
Caring for someone with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or F-A-S-D, is not easy. That's why Proof Alliance is offering a free two-day conference in Brooklyn Center on May 15th and 16th. F-A-S-D is caused by alcohol use during pregnancy and affects one in 20 children in the US. It causes permanent brain-based disability leading to challenges in behavior, learning, and social skills. The two-day conference offers help to those dealing with or caring for someone with F-A-S-D. Registration is online at Proof Alliance dot org.
[sound element: NSS outro theme]
HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.