Clinton News-Record, 1980-03-27, Page 24Page
BY JOANNE
BUCHANAN
The Canadian Cancer.
Society.. provides a
mastectomy. visiting
service designed to meet
the. emotional needs of
mastectomy patients.
Volunteers who have
had a maSteetomy
(surgical removal, of a
breast), are carefully
selected and trained to
visit patients in the
hospital or as soon as
possible after the patients
have gone home, when
the need for emotional
support is most critical,
I n Hur ori._Cttu>t�,ty,,.._the__
mastectomy visiting
service has two volun-
teers. They are Mrs.
Phyllis Pitblado and Mrs.
Phyllis McConnell. Four
years ago these women
took a mastectomy
-visitor training course in
Toronto. Both women had'
ha_d �, mastectomy
operations at least three.
years prior to taking the
course.
When they returned
from the course, they
began promoting the
visiting service, in Huron
County but' it has r. eally
only been. within the last
year that it has taken
shape,
Mrs, Pitblado
estimates that she and
Mrs. 'McConnell have
visited • about 15
mastectomy patients
between. the two of them.
Although she herself has
not visited anyone outside
Goderich, she says Mrs.
McConnell, who is a
public health nurse,
receives referals from
the Huron County Health
Unit and VONs. Both
women . are willing to
travel to patients
anywhere in the county.
Mrs. Pitblado• says she
and Mrs. 'lVicConnell visit
Mastectomy patients at
the request of doctors; and
must have orders signed
by the, doctors. The
program has been ver y
well accepted. in Goderich
by all the doctors, says
Mrs. Pitblado'.. Those
patients who have been.
visited also seem pleased
with the service.
The rolep' of the
mastectomy visitor is to
help the patient help
herself back to recovery..
The visitor presents the
patient with a special kit
containing a booklet with
general information
inclydilg_• fl c i io
exercises to be done only
with the doctor's ap
pxov-al; suggestions
about brassiere comfort
and clothing; . a tem-
porary prosthesis (or
'breast form) and extra
fiberfil; a list where a
permanent prosthesis
may be obtained and the
"'approXirnate cost , a
rubber bail" and a length
of rope for carryin.. g out
. the exercises suggsted in
the booklet; and a pattern
for- a prosthesis, if the
patient wishers to make
herown.
The ternporary, breast
form. and all -. -other
materials the visitor
brings are provided at no ,
charge.
The mastectomy
visitor does not sell or fit
prosthesis but is familiar
with all types. -
She has had her
operation at least three.
n of years_pri.or-ta.anytr.visidng�
and observes the
folloWing'guidelines: '
1. She does not offer
medical opinions or
advice.
2. She does not make
personal comparisons.
3: She keeps any in-
formation offered by the
patient, confidential,
4. She does not discuss
case histories.
5. :She does not stay
long .enough to tire the
patient.
The visitor will ac,-
compnay the patient.,
when she purchases her
permanent prosthesis if
the patient ,waishe4 her to
doso. she will also ac-
company the patient to
the treatment centre on
the first day if further
treatment is needed,
If asked, Mrs. Pitblado
says she and • Mrs.
'McConnell are happy to
make return visits.. She,
�.feels.a,.4hat the service
provides the patient with
understanding, en-
couragement and
practical help.
If anyone in Huron
County requires the
mastectomy visiting
service, please call Mrs.
Pitblado at 524-6608 or
Sit or stand in front of your
mirror, with your arms relaxed at
your sides, and examine your .
breasts carefully for any changes
in`size and shape. Look for any
puckering or dimpling of the
skin, and for any discharge or
change in the nipples
Now bring your left arm down to
your side, and still using the flat
part of your fingers, feel under
your armpit.
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.
Use the same gentle pressure to
feel the upper, outer quarter
of your breast from the
nipple line to where your
arm is resting.
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.
And finally, feel the lower outer
section of your breast, going:"
from the outer part to the nipple.
With the same gentle pressure,
feel the lower inner part of your
breast. Incidentally, in this area
you will feel a ridge of firm tissue
or flesh. Don't be alarmed This
is perfectly normal
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, dust after
your penod Be sure to continue
these checkups after your
change of life If you find a lump
car 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
Mrs, McConnell at 524-
9112' or': contact any
'member of the Huron
Unit of .the Canadian
Cancer Society. The unit
office is located at 7
Albert Street'in Clinton
(beside Clinton town
hall) .
SE and
pap tests
important
The Canadian' Cancer
Society recommends that
all, women practise
B -RE -A -S -T
EXAMINATION (BSE)
and have a regular PAP
TEST.
Here's an you do ...
PAP TEST
Ask your doctor about a
simple test called a PAP
TEST - a breakthrough in
cancer prevention
discovered by Dr. D.G.
Papanicolaou in 1928..
Your doctor will gather
some cells from the fluid
of the vagina. They are
then examined under a
microscope. This
examination can detect
cancer at its earliest
stage - so very important
for successful treatment.
If you are over 20, have
a PAP TEST as often as
your doctor suggests. It is
painless, not un-
comfortable, and takes
only- a— few, minutes- -of
your tine.
BREAST SELF-
EXAMINATION
Sit or stand before a
mirror. Note any change
in the shape or size of
your breasts or any
puckering of the skin or
nipples.
The purpose of BSE is
to feel for any lump in
your breasts. This is best
done shortly after your
period.
One way is to lie on
your bed with a folded
towel under your right
shoulder and your right
hand under your head.
Examine your right
breast using your
fingertips in gentle cir-
cular motions. Be sure to
examine each quarter of
your breast":
Ili}clude ,the nipple area.
Also examine your ar-
mpit. Repeat for left
breast with your left hand
under your head. See
your doctor about any
lump you may find. Most
do not mean cancer but
only he can tell.
Some . women do find
that BSE is more easily
done while bathing, You
might -like to ask your
doctor what method he
would recommend.
•
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