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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-03-29, Page 19Page 7 Some true facts about breast cancer In U.S. women, breast cancer occurs more often (89,000 cases each year) than any other form of cancer. When breast Wancer is diagnosed early and treated promptly, the rate of cure can be as high as 85 percent. And, thanks to new diagnostic methods and an alert public and medical profession, thousands of women are returning to their everyday lives after breast cancer treatment. Breast cancer is also the chief cause of cancer deaths among American women - an estimated 33,600 in 1975. Breast cancer can strike a woman of any age. However, it is more frequently found in the allover -35 age group. Breast cancer cannot be prevented, but the number of lives saved is increasing as more cases are diagnosed early and treated without delay. Fortunately, breast cancer is easy to find. In fact, 95 percent of breast lumps are discovered by women themselves. However, not all. women are finding breast can- cers early enough. CANCER ITSELF The body is composed of cells which grow and divide. Normal cells grow in an orderly way, creating healthy, useful tissue. Cancer cells do not grow in a regular pattern. A lump formed by the body's cells is called a tumor. There are two types of tumors - benign and malignant. The malignant, tumor is cancer. Ifyou Most lumps in the breast are benign, but only a physician can -determine the exact nature of a tumor. Cancer invades ad- jacent normal- tissue. 'It may also spread to other parts of the body, starting new growths known as metastases. It is therefore, im- portant to diagnose cancer before it spreads. If the cancer is localized in the breast, about 85 percent of the treated patients show no evidence of disease at the end of five years. Breast lumps, both benign and malignant can be found by touch. If a woman discovers a lump in her breast, she should see a doctor right away. The doctor may decide to perform a biopsy. This consists of removing a specimen of tissue and examining it under a microscope to see if it is benign or malignant. Every woman should also know about mam- mography and ther- mography, new diagnostic tools that may detect breast cancer in an extremely early stage, the first' by X ray, the second by a heat pattern image. Your physician or your local ACW unit can advise you about the availability , of these techniques in your community. No matter how busy, every woman should see her physician annually for a complete physical checkup, including a breast examination. And, once a month, after her menstrual period, or once a month, after the menopause, every woman should do a breast check. Remember that a breast lump does not necessarily mean cancer. A dimple in the skin, nipple discharge, an inverted nipple or ulceration may be significant but only a physician can make a final diagnosis and it is important to see him quickly if a breast change is discovered. TREATMENT Surgery and radiation therapy are the primary methods used to treat breast cancer. The management of an in- dividual patient is determined by the physician who is responsible. Some patients need only one method while others may require both. Most women with breast cancer are treated by an operation called a mastectomy (removal of the breast, the muscles There are many volunteers behind the scenes of the Huron Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society including, John Dolbec of Clinton, left, Unit Treasurer and Helen Davies, right, Unit president, who are shown chatting with Unit secretary, Marg Makins of Clinton. (News -Record photo) make Female cancers . e love aff lasts. You can help preVen' lung cancer, sK.rl ccincer and cervi,. T, cancer. • from page 6 testines, in that order. Each of these, if found and treated early, responds well. The key to successful treatment is to detect cancer early and to do this, there are certain steps every woman should take: • If you are over 35, visit your family doctor for a physical examination as often as he prescribes. • Report promptly to your doctQr any unusual bleeding, discharge, swelling or discomfort of any kind, or changes in normal body functions. • Cancer of the cervix can now be detected by a simple and painless test called the Pap test while it is still at a stage where there is no cause for alarm. Your doctor merely gathers a few surface cells from the cervix on a swab. When looked at under the microscope, suspicious cells stand out clearly. An early cancer colony can It's up to you. be removed by a minor operation before it has a chance to spread. Even should the cancer cells have started to wander, treatment in these early stages almost always results in a cure. • Learn how to examine your breasts every month. Your doctor will show you, or you may see a film on breast self- examination which is shown regularly by your local unit of the Canadian Cancer Society. • Visit your doctor after childbirth to make sure t -here are no injuries to the womb which need repair. • Lung cancer is preventable. Practically all cases occur in people who are cigarette smokers. Assure yourself of better health and set an intelligent example for your children by avoiding this habit. • Don't take home remedies for indigestion which occurs every day. This symptom especially after age 40, is important •• enough that you should see your doctor. • Remember that bleeding from the rectum may not be due to piles. See your doctor. • .Avoid being taken in by "miracle cures", trick diets, or treatments in far-off lands. Your own doctor or your local branch of the Canadian Cancer Society will provide you with in- formation to help you identify quack cures. At the present time, the proven ways to cure cancer are, radiation, which includes x-rays, radium Thiid radioactive substances and surgery or a combination of radiation and surgery. Chemotherapy, or treatment with drugs, offers considerable hope for the future. As yet there is no known drug that will cure all forms of cancer. Even when one is found, it is probable that early diagnosis and treatment will remain as important as they are today. underneath the breast and the lymph nodes in the armpit.) This operation is in- tended to remove all cancer -bearing tissue in the local and is designed to prevent recurrence, or arrest spread of the disease. The extent of the surgery required is determined by the surgeon. Hormones, chemicals and operations which remove the ovaries, or adrenal glands or pituitary glands are sometimes helpful in treating certain patients with breast cancer. Research contilt`ues to explore "additional measures which may be useful. The American Cancer Society offers a special free service for women who have had a mastectomy. It is the highly successful Reach to Recovery Program. Only at the request of the attending surgeon, a ' trained volunteer, who herself has had a mastectomy and returned to normal life successfully, visits the patient in the hospital. The volunteer is "living proof" of the ability to resume normal life, and she will offer special information on breast forms and clothing as well as answer the patient's non-medical questions. She will also assist in the performance of those exercises ap- proved by the surgeon. OTHER FACTS The cause of breast cancer in humans is not known. Some women recall an injury to the breast and suspect a relationship to the development of a breast tumor. However, it has never been proved that an in- jury is related to breast cancer. Most often the injury attracts a patient's attention to a tumor which was already there and not recognized before. Daughters or sisters of patients with breast cancer have a somewhat greater risk of developing the disease. The risk of developing breast cancer is somewhat lower for Turn to page 8 • This informative publication is brought to you with the kind co-operation of the following Ziebart AlIt10 440 BAYFIELD RD., GODERICH 524-2524 GAMESTER ADVERTISING TREVOR SMITH CALL 527-0848 Speidel Division of Textron Canada LmWted STRICKLAND MOTORS TOYOTA • AMC HURON RD. GODERICH