HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-03-29, Page 18Page 6
This informative publication is brought to you
with the kind co-operation of the following
For women only
Female cancers are found easily
WORSELL BROS.
PLUMBING & HEATING EXPERTS
THE SQUARE
GODERICH 524-7952
Alexander & Chapman
Insurance & Real Estate
8 THE SQUARE
GODERICH
a
524-9662
' ARTS LANDSCAPING
NURSERY & GARDEN CENTRE
116 BENNET ST.
GODERICH
PHONE
524- 9126
None of us will go
through life ' without
having cancer cross our
paths, even if we are
lucky enough to avoid a
personal collision with it.
As with other hazards of
life, however, a mature
and rational attitude will
eliminate needless worry
and fear.
The most serious
problem about cancer is
the fear that the very
word arouses. Fear and
ignorance go hand in
hand.
Learn about the disease
- first of all, that your
chances of being a cancer
victim are really not that
great. Then learn how
certain forms may be
prevented, how detection
in time will lead to per-
manent cure in many
cases, and how research
is continually improving
our knowledge of the
disease, its prevention,
detection and treatment.
Statistics tell us that
four out of five Canadian
women will not die of
cancer. You can increase
your chances of
remaining in this for-
tunate group by knowing
the protection available
to you. The increasing
knowledge about cancer
has already had im-
portant results for
Canadian women. For
example, the death rate
in Canada for cancer of
the uterus has dropped 35
percent in the past 20
years.
As our population in-
creases and people live
longer, the chances of
knowing more than one
person in a family who
has had cancer become
greater. There is no
evidence, however, that
cancer can result from
having close contact with
someone who has it, nor
is there any evidence in
humans that cancer is
hereditary.
Studies show that
cancer in women occurs
most frequently in parts
of the body easily
examined by a doctor.
The most common site is
the breast, followed by
uterus, skin and in -
Turn to page 7 •
The Pap
testis easy, safe, sure
by less urgent conditions
such as infection - are the
signs of established
cancers. Fortunately,
science now has a test
which can find uterine
cancers before symptoms
occur.
Cancer of the uterus is
now fourth in rank among
cancerkillers of
American women (the
first three are cancer of
the breast, cancer of the
colon and rectum and
lung cancer.)
Yet most deaths from
uterine cancer should be
Pleliminated by
widespread use of a
simple, painless, . inex-
Turn to page 12 •
Cancer is often a cells grow to form a
curable disease - 1,500,000 tumor which invades
liva3ig., Americans who surrounding normal
have been cured of tissue - eventually
cancer are eloquent _destroying the organ in
testimony to this fact - which it originated.
and cancer of the uterus If the disease is un -
or womb is potentially checked, cells from the
one of the most curable tumor are carried
forms of cancer. Yet, this • through the body's two
year about 11,000 general circulatory
American women will die systems - the lymph and
of canc'e'r of the uterus. blood systems - to other
Why? ., ;, areas of the body.
To onswerthis There they set up new
question, we must first destructive growths. This
examine the nature of the process is called
disease. metastasis, and a cancer
Uterine cancer, like that has spread in this
other types of cancer, is manner is said to have
made up of abnormal metastasized.
calls which multiply. The Most cancers of the
Sit or stand in front of your
mirror, with your arms relaxed at
your side. and exa rune your
breasts carefully for any changes
in size and shape Look for any
puckenng or dimpling of the
skin, and for any discharge or
change in the nipples
Raise both your arms over your
head. and look for exactly the
same things See if there's been
any change since you last
examined your breasts
Lie on your bed, put a pillow or
a bath towel under your left
shoulder and your left hand
under your head (From this
Step through Step 8, you should
feel for a lump or thickening )
With the fingers of your right
hand held together flat, press
gently but firmly with small
circular motions to feel the inner,
upper quarter of your left breast'.
starting at your breast -bone and
going outward toward the nipple
line Also feel the area around
the nipple
With the same gentle pressure.
feel the lower inner part of your
breast IncidentaHy, in this area
you will feel a ridge of firm tissue
or flesh Don't be alarmed This
is perfectly normal
uterus begin in the lower
part of the womb called
the cervix, or neck. Some
arise in the corpus, or
body of the uterus, which
is the upper part.
If uterine cancer is
allowed to develop, the
cancer cells may spread
directly to the vagina,
bladder and rectum. Or
they may spread through
the lymphatic system to
lymph nodes within the
pelvis, or through the
bloodstream to distant
organs such as the lungs.
The symptoms of
cancer of the womb are
unusual bleeding or
discharge. But these -
which may also be caused
Now bring your left arm down to
your side. and still using the flat
part of your fingers, feel under
your armpit
Use the same gentle pressure to
feel the upper, outer quarter
of your breast from the
nipple line to where your
arm is resting.
And finally, feel the lower outer
section of your breast. going
from the outer part to the nipple
Repeat the entire procedure on
the right breast „
Your own doctor may want you
to use a slightly different method
of examination Ask him to teach
you that method Examine your
breasts every month, Just after
your period Be sure to continue
these checkups after your
change of life If you find a lump
or thickening leave it alone until
you see your doctor Don't be
frightened Most breast lumps or
changes are not cancer, but only
your doctor can tell
•;2
4.
•
•