The 95 second animation, hosted on YouTube, features a young guy watching the TV in his Y-fronts, whilst his armpits have a conversation with each other about the signs and symptoms of lymphoma. Quite frankly, you’ll be glad it’s animated and not dramatised!

Lymphoma is a cancer that usually starts in the lymphatic system, part of your body’s immune system and PITS is an acronym for the most common warning signs and symptoms: Persistent lumps, Itching, Tiredness and Sweating. The significance of the talking armpits is that “persistent lumps” tend to be found around lymph nodes in your armpits, neck and/or groin and it was decided that talking armpits are more bearable to watch than talking groin regions!

PITS Campaign coordinator, Dave Owen, said: “Lymphoma is the UK’s most common cancer in the under 30s and our campaign is helping to raise awareness among university students of the common signs and symptoms, which can often be written off as typical ‘student wear and tear’. Lymphoma in young people is highly curable and we really want to encourage anyone with any of the symptoms or concerns to get to their GP. Please don’t be embarrassed or think that you are wasting their time!”

The animation is proving popular, with almost 1000 views in its first week and now the PITS campaign team is calling on the power of students to help the animation turn viral; simply by watching it on Youtube, sharing it with your friends and ‘liking’ the campaign on facebook.com/PITSawareness, you would be helping to raise the profile of lymphatic cancer, which could see an increase in young people seeking an earlier diagnosis and starting important treatment at an earlier stage.

You can watch the full 95-second film on YouTube at www.youtube.com/takeaPITStop.

The PITS campaign is run by the Lymphoma Association, a charity dedicated to providing up to date inormation and support to all people affected by lymphoma. For more information on the campaign, please visit www.takeapitstop.org.uk, for more information on lymphoma, please visit www.lymphomas.org.uk

About the PITS campaign

PITS is an acronym for the four most common symptoms of lymphoma: Persistent lumps, Itching, Tiredness and Sweating.

Research shows that although lymphoma is the most common cancer in the under-30s, nearly one third of teenagers and young adults have never heard of it. The PITS awareness campaign is a three-year programme which started in 2009, funded by a grant from the Department of Health and run by Lymphoma Association (registered charity no. 1068395), which aims to make university students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland aware of the symptoms of lymphoma.

www.takeapitstop.org.uk
www.facebook.com/PITSawareness
www.twitter.com/takeapitstop
www.youtube.com/takeapitstop
For further information, please contact
Dave Owen, campaign coordinator
Telephone: 01296 619418
E-mail: d.owen@lymphomas.org.uk
Lymphoma Association, PO Box 386, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 2GA

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CHLAMYDIA
Chlamydia was first identified in 1907 and is the most common sexually transmitted infection.
About 1 in 10 sexually active young people tested have chlamydia.
Many people do not realise they have chlamydia, due to lack of symptoms, thus it is dubbed the ‘silent epidemic.’The disease cannot live outside the body for very long, thus you cannot catchchlamydia from toilet seats, sharing baths or towels, or using swimming pools.
It can, however, be spread by sharing sex toys, and so if they are shared it is advisable to wash them and cover them with a condom.
Luckily, chlamydia can be easily treated with antibiotics, but if leftuntreated it can cause infertility.

HIV
The spread of HIV is thought to be one of the most destructive pandemics ever. Since its discovery in the 1980s it has killed over 25 million people.
HIV affects the whole body, and is even found in tears, saliva and urine, although the concentration is not actually high enough to spread the infection. HIV is thought to have originated in non-human primates during the early 20th century from around sub-Saharan Africa.
Since then no cure or vaccination has been found, however there have been anecdotal cases of people ‘shaking off’ the virus. None of these cases have been proved beyond doubt.
While these cases may be unusual it still provides hope that a cure may eventually be found.

HERPES
Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus.
The disease can also affect the mouth and nose, thus producing cold sores. Herpes can also be a result of the infection, and appear on the hands as painful sores.
It is also possible to spread herpes by oral sex and close genital contact as you don’t need to have penetrative sex to pass it on. Transmission is also possible via the hand, however
self infection from various body parts is rare.
The virus can remain inactive in the body and during this time it is not infectious.

Deirdre Walsh

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Here’s a scenario to consider, you’re in a club and someone you don’t know hands you a drink. Do you drink it? The answer should have been no. Drink spiking has beenin the news recently after a guest DJ had his drink spiked in Sugar Mill on Monday 29th September with GHB. Drink spiking occurs when drugs or alcohol are added to your drink without your knowledge. Most drugs involved in drink spiking take 5 to 20 minutes after the drink has been spiked to take effect. Symptoms include; dizziness, disorientation, difficulty speaking, visual problems and amnesia. Although these sound like the results of a particularly brutal night out, when applied to ‘spike’ victims, the consequences can be dire. Victims often suffer mental distress for long periods of time, sometimes even to the extent whereby they cannot remember what happened until days after. Rohypnol, known as the ‘date rape’ drug takes 48 hours to leave the systems and GHB only 12 hours, so if you believe your drink has been spiked then tell someone you trust and the staff and manager of the club and have them take you to A&E. If it is entirely necessary, CPR can be performed, but only if the person is qualified. GHB, the drug used on this particular occasion, is also known as ‘fantasy’, and is used for medicinal purposes as well as a means to do harm. Drinks spiked with GHB can have a noticeable salty flavour, but it is difficult to trace in urine samples, making it, regrettably, an ideal date-rape drug. Reasons for drink spiking include amusement, sexual assault, rape or theft and while the majority of drink spiking cases occur with women, men make up 11% of reported cases. Shockingly, 68% of victims know their rapist as a partner or friend. Drink spiking doesn’t only occur in clubs, 10% of reported cases last year occurred on a university campus. Some ways of avoiding having your drink spiked include keeping your drink with you at all times and cover the top of the glass or bottle with your hand. You should be as wary of your friends’ drinks as your own. Never accept a drink from someone you don’t know or drink left over drinks. Finally,
whenever possible, drink from a bottle rather than a glass as bottles are easier to cover. Most clubs now give out bottle stoppers that allow enough space for only a straw to enter. If one isn’t provided with the drink ask at the bar as most places including Asylum, Sanctuary and Sugar Mill give them out for free. Drink spiking is extremely serious and should be understood by everyone who walks into a club. There have been instances where victims cannot trust their own friends or partners for a long time afterwards, and are frightened to talk about it, mainly because it is impossible to recall exactly what happened to them following the spiking. For more information on drink spiking including a comprehensive list of symptoms and ways to protect yourself visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.

Tom Lewis

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A rigorous session of sex can burn up to two hundred calories, but as well as being great exercise there are loads of untold benefits of sex.The oestrogen released during sex is thought to make hair shinier and skin suppler, thus making you more attractive to a potential mate. Endorphins are
also released, and have been found to have analgesic effects such as lesseningheadaches, stomach cramps and back pain.
Oxycotin, another hormone released during sex, has qualities such as being a natural sedative. This means having sex promotes deep sleep, which in turn benefits your health as a whole. Oxycotin is also known as the bonding hormone, as it is released during birth to promote a good relationship between
mother and child. It is thought that the release of oxycotin during sex promotes a healthier and loving relationship between partners.
The antibody immunoglobulin A is boosted by sex and helps to fight illnesses such as colds and flu. The study conducted by the Wilkes University of Pennsylvania found people having sex more than once or twice a week had 30% higher levels of the antibody. In a study between 1979 and 1983
experts at Caerphilly found frequent sex once or twice a week could reduce the rate of mortality. 918 men took part in the study, and those having regular orgasms had 50% lower mortality. Frequent sex
can also reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes in men, and research is underway to see if ejaculating can also reduce the risk of prostrate cancer.
Sex is an entirely natural and necessary part of human life, and of course has many health benefits.
While we may be the most intelligent species on the planet, our underlying instinct is still to find a mate and reproduce. When it comes down to it, our sex drive and search for love could be clinically described as searching for a mate and establishing time to successfully reproduce.
Sex is about survival of the fittest; our prehistoric ancestors have been assimilated to ‘promiscuous, no
commitment Bonobo chimps Sex, however, has always puzzled scientists. The act of copulation, of which humans manage 120 million times each day, is actually much less efficient than asexual reproduction. While scientists cannot agree upon a definite reason why many species use the act of sex to reproduce, one theory is that it weeds out genetic mutation. Sex may be ourform of natural selection, as those with harmful or undesirable mutations will find it harder to mate.
We could, however, be described as being part of an ongoing sexual revolution which began in the sixties with the birth of the contraceptive pill. Humans no longer only mate to reproduce, but instead have sex for pleasure and bonding between partners. Perhaps the enjoyment and health benefits could explain why we humans prefer the act of copulation, rather than just simply splitting ourselves in two.

Megan French

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