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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1980-03-27, Page 32N.g stio'ns 1. What is Cancer • Cancer is art abnormal growth of cells in the Patient's. own tissues. This .growth is nct subject to the checks and controls which limit normal, growth,, but persists without regard for the needs of the body. Cancer cells differ from normal cells inthat they have the ability to infiltrate into, surrounding normal inp. tissues. Moreover, small clusAof cancer cells may break off from the parent growth and be carried by the blood or lymphatic flow to other parts of the body and become established as secondary growths. 2. Whatcauees cancer? In experimental animals, cancer can be produced by many, agents, including. certain chemicals, hormones, viruses and radiation. .Some of these agents have also been shown to cause cancer in humans, but in most cases of human cancer the .cause is not known. There is a direct relationship between the smoking of How the society uses its money RESEARCH Canadian research, largely supported by the public funds donated to the Canadian Cancer Society in its annual April campaign, has made significant con- tributions to the world-wide fight against cancer, including: the "Cobalt Bomb" developed by Dr. Harold E. Johns ; vinblastine, a drug useful in treating various forms of cancer, discovered by Dr. R.L. Noble; and radioautography, developed by Dr. C.P. Leblond. Money is spent on fellowships for individual scientists, the largest part is devoted to specific aspects of cancer research. Of each dollar donated to the Canadian Cancer Society, 58 cents is given to research. SERVICE TO PATIENTS Cancer patients often need a special type of care and a special type of support and encouragement. This care and morale -building interest is provided by members of the Ontario Division Service to Patients Committee. These Volunteers visit patients in. homes --and--hospitals, make dressings, deliver- gifts; provide transportation to treatment centres and pain -killing drugs for needy patients. This service requires 15 cents of each dollar. EDUCATION One of the most important functions- of the Ontario Division of the Society is the education of the people of Ontario about cancer and the manner in which each person can fight the disease. This education is carried on in schools and industry through films, speeches, billboards, publicity material for the media and the distribution of free pamphlets such as "Help for Smokers", "Cancer Facts", and "research vs. Cancer". This work takes another 13 cents of each dollar donated. • ADMINISTRATION Although 95 percent of the Society's work is carried out by volunteers, funds are required to pay the salaries of permanent employees and to provide the necessary business equipment in, -Ontario. This takes about 6 cents of each dollar. CAMPAIGN COSTS The time and effort involved .in conducting the Society's annual campaign is given freely and voluntarily, but it still costs money to collect money. Campaign posters, canvassers' kits and many other tools necessary for a successful campaign take 5 cents of each dollar donated. LODGES There are four patient lodges in Ontario ... in Toronto, London, Thunder Bay and Ottawa. These•are, bright, attractive accommodations ... "a home away from home" ... for cancer patients undergoing treatment. Many services are provided by Society volunteers. Of each dollar donated 3 cents goes toward the provision of these lodges. SEPARATE CAMPAIGN The Canadian Cancer Society cannot combine its , fund-raising with other local campaigns because no joint community appeal could afford the increasing costs of research and provide the facilities necessary to house these projects. The funds required by the Society must cover capital expenditures in researchin• addition to year-round operating expenses. With the single exception of the National Cancer Institute of Canada, which does not canvass for funds, there, are no other organizations affiliated with the Canadian Cancer Society. The Society is a registered Canadian charitable organization under the Income Tax Act and donations to it .may be claimed by the donors as in- come tax deductions to the extent provided by the Act. savers about Cance: cigarettes and lung cancer, and in Industry a number of cancer-causing ehcmicais have been identified. Steps have been taken to protect workmen against these hazards, - • •8 O. Can cancer, be caused by germs ` A number of malignant tumours in animals and birds have been shown. to be caused -by viruses - the smallest of the disease -producing germs, No viruses have been positively identified with lurnan cancers, although some authorities believe that viruses may play an important role in this regard. 4. Is cancer contagious or infectious? No. There is no evidence that anyone has .ever caught cancer by direct or `indirect contact with another person who has cancer, or by contact with animals. There is apparently no risk to persons loolfing after cancer patients. Doctors and nurses have done so daily for many years. without any ill. effects. 5. Is cancer a single disease? No. Cancer is a family of hundreds of different diseases whose• only similarity is that they are all abnormal cell growths. Some cancers are highly dangerous, while 'Others can be cured in almost every case. Doctors can usuall give a reasonabl accurate prediction .as to t e ley • e aviour of any given cancer. 6. Is leukaemia a form of cancer? Yes. Leukaemia is cancer of the blood -forming tissues in which there is excessive and uncontrolled production of white blood cells. In Canada, of the total deaths from all cancer in a single year, approximately 4 percent are caused by leukaemia, one-fifth of these among children under 15 years of age. 7. Can cancer be caused by a bruise or sprain or other injury?' No. There is no evidence that any cancer has ever been caused by injury alone, although it is possible that injuries such as bruises and sprains may oc- casionally accelerate the growth of pre-existing cancer. 8. How is food related to cancer? Little is known about diet in relation to cancer but research is being carried out to explore the possible role of food habits in the occurrence of cancer in various countries and population groups. - 9. If a parent dies from cancer, are the children more likely to develop this disease? No. Familial tendencies do occur, but as a general rule, children of parents who have died from cancer are no more likely to develop cancer than anyone else. 10. Are. .the..results_of...animal..studies _on..'cancer__ap plicable to human beings? Much of our fundamental knowledge of human cancer has been learned from the study of the disease in experimental animals. Withoufsuch animal studies it is higly unlikely that our knowlege would have advanced to its present stage. All new cancer. remedies, particularly the new drugs, were first tested on animal tumours. 11. How does cancer spread through the body? The spread of cancer, known as metastasis, can happen in three ways: a) cancer cells pay grow directly -from one tissue to another ; • b) they may enter lymphatic channels and spread to lymph nodes; c) they may gain access to blood vessels and spread to distant parts of the body through the blood, 12. How fast does cancer grow? There is a wide variation in the rates of growth of different types of cancer. Even the same type of. cancer in different patients may grow . at different rates. 13. Does the use of alcohol bear any relation to cancer? Excessive use of alcohol over long periods of time does seem to have a relationship to cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach. 14. Can immunity to cancer be acquired as in the case of diphtheria, typhoid fever or polio? ..There are no vaccines or toxoids which will protect us against cancer. However, healthy bodies have natural defences and much effort is being devoted to research into ways of reinforcing these defences. 15. What is the danger from air -pollution or in- dustrial chemicals? Exposure to certain chemicals and irritants in in- dustry has been- linked to' increased cancer rates. Pollution, particularly of the air in large city areas, has been shown to contribute to health problems. Thus, cigarette smokers run an eVen greater risk if they live in a city having serious air pollution. It should be the duty of every Canadian to become familiar with the health hazards of his or her com- munity, and to work actively to correct abuses resulting from neglect or ignorance: 16. Is progress being made in cancer research? Research into the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer is progressing on a broad basis in many countries, including Canada. It has-been proven, for example that certain physical and chemical compounds, hormones and viruses can cause cancer in animals.' • New methods of in- vestigation have made possible the comparison of the normal cell with the cancer cell. There have been improvements ir1'surgical methods, making it possible for patients to have major operations and live com- .. [ ill fortably afterwards. Progress has been made too I the technical aspects of radiation therapy with the development of various ;kinds of curing ,rays. The use of drugs and hormones in 'treatment .holdspromise for the future. Nevertheless,the final- 00nquest of all forms of cancer stili eludes us -and the struggle must be . intensified. More than 45 per cent of the funds raised, annually by the Canadian -Cancer Society is directed against cancer through research. To date some 42 million dollars has been spent by the Society for the support, of the nationwide research programme delving into the many facets of the cancer problem. 17. Is cancer Increasing? The nuniber of new Cancer cases diagnosed each year . per thousand of our population is .increasing slowly. The increase is thought to be due mostly to improved methods of diagnosis leading to more frequent recognitionof the disease, and to the fact that more and more of our population are living longer, thereby reaching the so-called cancer age group. However, there has been an increase in the rate of lungcancer among men, and in both men and women an increase in leukaemia. 18use-o. Howf-death2 does cancer-. compare with other diseases a It occupies second place to diseases of the heart an blood vessels which account for more than twice as many deaths as cancer. The following table shows the number of deaths for -Canada in 1973 under the three major causes. Heart and Circulatory Diseases - 80,330; Cancer - 33,069; and Accidents and Violence - 16,812. 19. Can children have cancer? Yes, in 1972 in Canada 222 children under the age of 15 died of cancer which is second only to accidents as a cause of death in this age group. 20. Do more women than men die from cancer? No. This was once the case, but not since 1945 when the increase of lung cancer in men put male cancer Turn to page 11 • This informative publicationis brought to you with the kind co-operation of the following WORSELL BROS. PLUMBING & HEATING EXPERTS THE SQUARE 9ODERICH 524-7952 HOFFMEYER PLUMBING & HEATI IG INGLIS APPLIANCES 55 KINGSTON ST. 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