HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-01-04, Page 7Call for cancer information
TORONTO - The Cancer Infor-
mation Service is a toll-free tele-
phone inquiry service that supplies
factual, up-to-date information
about cancer and cancer -related re-
kources to the genecal,pttblic, cancer
patients and their families, to health
professionals and the media.
Specific information about cancer
prevention, causes, rfskTactors; par-
ticular cancer sites, methods of di-
agnosis, treatment and rehabilita-
. tion is available. As well,
information about local resources.
for cancer patients and families
treatment facilities, home care pro-
grams, volunteer and self-help pro-
grams -. is available. Information
given by telephone is often supple-
mental by written material mailed.
to the caller at no charge.
The Cancer Information• Service
is staffed. by trained personnel who
respond to calls with specific indi-
- vidualized information in layman's
language, and provide the opportu-
nity . for the caller to discuss his
concerns fully. The Cancer Informa-
tion Service should not be confused
with telephone libraries -that play
taped messages on specific topics.
The assurance of confidentiality
or anonymity .provided by the Ser-
vice often proves to be an asset.
Callers can ask very basic or per-
sonal questions without fear or em-
barrassment. Callers arc not required
to give their names or other infor-
mation about themselves.
• One of the major aims of a Can-
ccr Information Service is to reduce
the widespread fear and confusion
surrounding cancer, by providing a
currcnt, factual, readily available
source of information. This will as-
sist the public in understanding and;
coping with the disease in family,
friends and associates: Above all,
we hope to promote.'prevention,
early diagnosis and screening, and
earlier treatment.
Much of the information -current-
ly reaching the public comes
through the mass media, e.g. televi-
sion, radio, newspapers, journals.
In addition, the media provide a
• high level of support for cancer
control efforts. Therefore, this
group need ready access to cancer
information:
Most of the media do riot have a
readily available and reliable source
through which to verify the latest
cancer "information" picked up
from wire services, or publicla-
tions officers for drug companies
and other institutions. As a result,
.the "information" may be dissemi-
nated with little or no verification,
since reporters have only two or
three hours to meet their deadlines.
The resources of the Cancer Infor-
mation Service can provide a rapid
and accurate check of the latest in-
formation,
thereby reducing the
amount of inaccurate or incomplete
material reaching the public."
The need for a professionally
supported Canccr Information Ser-
vice is based on several considera-
tions. Cancer is not one disease
entity, but a name given to a
group of approximately one hun-
dred diseases, each with different
risks, causes, methods of diagnosis
and treatment and prognosis. The
body of knowlcdgc concerning
these diseases is so rapidly grow-
ing that there arc large gaps emerg-
ing between the body of knowlcdgc
and health cart providers, the can-
cer patient and family and the pub-
lic at large. These gaps reduce the
effectiveness of health care provid-
and generate tear and contusion in
the mind of the public.
There is an increasing nccd to
bridge that gap, by informing the
public of what can be done to re-
duce the chances of developing can-
ccr, to optimize treatment and reha-
bilitation options and to describe
the results of cancer research. The
nccd has become urgent in light of,
recent knowledge that 80 percent of
canccrs can be prevented if the pub-
lic had and utilized existing knowl-
cdgc appropriately."
The relationship between smok-
ing and lung cancer is well docu-
mented. itcceta fintli111;; ir;ai: ire
that dietary changes may influence
the incidence of breast and bowel-
canceds In addition, patients do not
always reap all the benefits of ad -
'Agriculture in
the classroom'
workshops begin
TORONTO - Workshops on ag-
riculture and the food system will
be held across the province for
teachers, principals, librarians and
education consultants. The 11 frcc
"Ag Aware, Why Care?" work-
shops arc sponsored by the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture and Food's
agriculture in the classroom pro-
gram. 1/4, •
Workshop_s_�will cover where ag-
-riditalFi-`-r`Ti1fnto the curriculum,
why students should know about
agriculture and what teaching re-
sources arc available.
They will also include an intro-
duction to the new "Many Nations,
Many Farms" kit produced by the
ministry, which features multicul-
turalism in Ontario agriculture.
For further details, please call
519-767-3522 or 519-767-3546.
Enrollment is limited. The work-
shop for this arca will be held htn-
uary 31 in London.
vances in treatment o#' cancer, be-
cause of Zack of understanding.
Thus, a more knowledgeable
public is more able to undertake
preventative measures and will also
produce a more knowledgeable pa-
tient who can actively participate
in his own 4teattnent and care,
based on an.undcrstanding of his
disease. Furthermore, the knowl-
edgeable patient will demand and
receive the highest standard of'med-
ical care, whether he is receiving
that carc at a canccr centre or a
small community hospital.
Health care providers also need
access to current information. This
is available to heal th professionals
in varying degrees depending on
their type of practice, their geo-
graphic location, and access to a
cancer or university centre.
Lack of access is evidence4 by the
current misunderstandings surround-
ing palliative care issues, methods
of control of pain' and othcr'symp-
toms, and the role of heroin.
It is essential that all practition-
ers have access to this continually
growing body of knowledge, espe-
cially the emerging awareness that
the common cancers which are dif-
ficult to treat may be preventable.
In Ontario, the Cancer Informa-
tion Service is funded jointly by
the Canadian Cancer Soct, y . On-
tario Division and the Ontario Can-
cer Treatment and Research Founda-
tion. Administration is through the
Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre.
The toll frcc number of 800-263-
6750.
Times -Advocate, January 4, 1989
Page 7
A Lucan winner - One of the three prizes in the Lucan Optimist Club best decorated home con-
test was won by Mr. and Mrs. Merton Culbert at 125 Francis Street. -
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