Clinton News-Record, 1980-03-27, Page 29Pap test results
diagnosis and t
The test for changes in
the neck of the womb
which indicates the
presence of cancer, 4r of
a condition which may
lead to cancer, is known
as the 'Pap test' or .the
`Cytology, test', This very
important . yet very
simple test canbe carried
out in your dpctor's office
in a matter of minutes.
Ask your doctor to. in-
clude it, in your next
regular check-up. If you
are over 18 years of age,
you should take ad-
vantage of this safeguard
as often as your doctor
ecom mends .
do
- -HOW IS -IT
DONE?
The test is carried out
by a doctor who takes a
little of the natural
moisture from the
vagina. In this moisture
there is always a large
number of tiny cells shed
from the womb. These
are too small to be seen
by the naked eye, so the
doctor places a sample
between two thin plates of
glass, called a slide. This
slide is then sent to a
laboratory where the'
cells 'are examined under
a microscope. In most
women, these cells are
absolutely normal. In a
very few -about G out of
every thousand - the cells
do not look normal. When
this occurs the test is
repeated and, "if
n e
examinations made..
THEN WHAT?
If these further tests
show abnormality, a
minor operation may be
performed in which a
small piece of tissue is
removed from the -neck of
the womb. Very often this
will completely eliminate
the risk of development of
this type of cancer. It
may mean a stay in
hospital for a few days,
but this minor operation
does . not interfere with
child-bearing, nor does it
affect the sexual life of
the woman who is treated
in this way. •
Even if more extensive
treatment is required the
Pap test enables doctors
to discover cancer in time
so that the chances for
• complete cure are vastly
'increased.
•GOOD ADVICE: •
If you are told that your
test is normal, you will
naturally feel very
happy. Remember
though that the preser-
vation of good health
requires that you remain
alert to any unusual
symptoms, and that you
should see your doctor at
the first sign of anything
abnormal. Keep in mind
that a Pap test is
in early
at:
designed onfy to detect
pre -cancerous changes in
the neck of the womb.
HAS THE PAP
TESTHELPED?
The mortality rate
from cancer of the cervix
. was generally ' on the
increase until the early
1950's. That's when the
Pap test was introduced
1.4 •
to Canadians on a large
scale. Since then there
has been a significant.
decline in the death rate.
from °cancer of the cer-
vix* There are probably
severa.l . factors
responsible for ° this
decrease. One of .the most
important is early.
treatment as .a result of
the Pap test.
Services
1e -
DRUGS
Upon request of the patient's physician, the
Canadian Cancer Society will pay for certain
specified pain relieving' drugs for patients in
need.
DRESSINGS
Free dressings made by volunteers are
available to all cancer patients.,;
HOME VISITING
Carefully chosen volunteers help to cheer the.
patient by making home 'Visits, if this is
requested.
NURSING SERVICE
Every new patient referred to the Society is
visited by a Public Health Nurse from an official
or voluntary agericy..She assists in determining
the needs of the cancer patient, and interprets
the services of the Society to the patient and
family, as well as acquainting them with other
Community Services. This visit is made with'the
doctor's permission. There is no charge to the
-.-_.patient..for..this. Visit
LODGE AND CLINIC r
SERVICES
. There are Lodges ,in Hamilton, . London,
Ottawa, Toronto and_ Thunder Bay. They are
operated by the Ontario Cancer Treatment and
Research Foundation. Admission. to this free
accommodation is through the Foundation
Clinics. Volunteers of the Canadian Cancer
Society provide comfort and companionship to
patients who are in residence at these lodge.
HOUSEKEEPING
Society funds are available for a Homemaker
Service to a family in extreme need for a period
of four weeks.
HOME NURSING SERVICE
Society funds are available for this service for
two weeks 'when the patient requires active •
nursing care at home.
ACTIVITY PROGRAM
An Activity Program for patients at home
provides them ' with some recreation, activity
and diversion.
PATIENT TRANSPORTATION
This service is given either by volunteer
drivers or public conveyance to cancer patients
in -need, to and from treatments and clinics. •
MASTECTOMY VISITING
SERVICE
This is a service given to patients after a
mastectomy at the request of their attending
physician. This service is•given by a volunteer of
the Canadian Cancer Society who has completely ,
recovered from a mastectomy.
These services are available through your
local unit of the Canadian Cancer Society.
April is the officlal month for the Canadian, Cancer Society to Kick off its
fund raising campaign. The Huron Unit has a goal of $54000 this year with
the Goderich branch to raise $1.3,000 as its share of that amount: Les Pit-
blado, rural fund raising` campaign chairman for the Goderich Branch and
Claude Kalbfleisch, urban`:funa raising campaign chairman are convinced
that the goal can be met. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan)
Research is frustrating
Patience as well as
talent i_ s needed -by a
cancer research scien-
tist ; it can be a
frustrating occupation.
Often a researcher must
end his current work and
start all over again from
the beginning.
His lifelong battle
against cancer may not
rate a front page
newspaper story but his
result -tan still be im-
portant as one tiny part of
the -jigsaw puzzle of this
disease.
The dedicated in-
vestigator might be
.likened to a small boy
_learning to tie his
shoelaces one of life's
most baffling un-
dertakings. Success
comes only after many
attempts - some disap-
pointments, a final
struggle.
Canceris a fact of life.
It still exists in spite of all
the knowledge we have
gained and all the
progress made so far. Its
secrets are slowly being
unravelled through long
hard -hours -of -expensive
research, funded by the,
National cancer Institute
of Canada through public
donations to the Canadian
Cancer Society. -
Many men and women -
are involved in 'basic
research, the . study of
Volunteers...
• from page G
fectious, not hereditary,
not caused by knocks or
humps, or by what people
eat.
CANCER IS NEITHER
DIRTY OR
SHAMEFUL
It isn't even new. It
existed in animals before
men inhabited the earth,
and it has been with us
since. But because it
afflicts the old more than
the young so the in-
cidence of it has in-
creased as life ex-
pectation has increased.
People now live long
enough to get it. Doctors
are now clever enough to
diagnose it. And modern
industrial life. with its
smoke and pollution,
encourages it.
But do not for a
moment imagine that by
trying to replace the
myths with the facts, you
will replace ignorance
with.truth. It takes a long
time and should keep you
humble. Be comforted
that at least_y_pu have'had'
the -opportunity to find out
and to assist others in
finding out.
Perhaps the most
difficult question of all
that you will face is;
Why? Why cancer?. What
is its cause?
And the answer is that
we do not know why some
cells suddenly begin to
behave abnormally, why
the control mechanism of
the body should suddenly
falter. But almost cer-
tainly there is more than
one cause.
We know for certain
that persistent exposure
to some industrial
chemicals increases the
likelihood of developing
cancer. And we know that
whathappens when a
normal cell is tran-
sformed into a cancer
cell. Some are working
with known animal
viruses, hormones and
the body's immune
system. Genetics and
chemical carcinogenesis
claim thescientific at-
tention of other resear-
chers. Clinical research
is an increasingly active
area, 'co'veMfg Turn-
activities
umactivities as,
epidemiology and clinical
trials of new approaches
to therapy.
All are looking for
answers. Some will find
then'.
lung cancer is often self-
inflicted. Cigarette
smokers are much more
likely to get it than nonce
smokers.
We know that it makes
great sense for women to
have regular Pap tests
because 'that test can
detect cancer'even before
it starts. We know that it
is wise for women to
examine their breasts for
lumps every month after
their menstrual period.
All this you can offer as
advice, if asked, without
hesitation. And if you
have given up ,smoking
for your own good, and
talk sensibly and calmly
about cancer for the good
of those who will listen,
then you will indeed have
made a real contribution
to the campaign against'
cancer.
This informative publication is brought to you with the kind co-operation of the following
e"ong±in
9 „,
Lt
33 HURON ST., CLINTON
482-9542
ED & BILL STILES
STILES FUNERAL HOME
-, ANNE'S
BEAUTY CENTRE
• 48 WEST STREET
GODERICH
524-9632