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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1983-03-30, Page 33r at stris Chemotherapy means treatment of a disease by the use of drugs. In this case, the disease is eancer. Chemotherapy has been us- ed in one form or another in the treatment of cancer for the past twenty-five years. In the last twenty years great strides have been made in discovering new drugs and new combinations of old drugs to control or pro- duce a halt in the progres- sion of the disease. The first type to be con- trolled, not cured, was leukemia; the knowledge gained there has been ap- plied to many other forms of cancer. When a new chemotherapy drug is discovered, it is first used in experiments on animals to discover possible harmful effects. It is then subjected to a rigid series of tests in highly controlled situations to discover the most effective doses and schedules of administration that will work best for the destruction of cancer cells without harming normal tissue. The new drug is then ap- proved by the Food and Drug Directorate of Health and Welfare Canada for general use. From the tune a new drug is discovered until it is in general use may be from one to four years. These controls are necessary so that no one will suffer from improper use of a drug. The drug or drugs the doctor prescribes have gone through all these steps and have been used before with good results. A doctor would not give them unless he or she felt there was a good chance of that par- ticular cancer responding to treatment. A doctor is the best judge of what drug, if any, is best to use in a particular situa- tion, for only he or she is thoroughly familiar with the patient and his state of health. Use of Chemotherapy As you are probably aware, chemotherapy is only one method of treating cancer. It may be used alone, or in conjunction with surgery or radiation. Formerly chemotherapy was used only after all else had failed. This is not true to- day. Know cancer's warning signals 1. Change in bowel or blad- der habits. 2. A sore that does not heal. 3. Unusual bleeding or discharge. 4. Thickening or lurop in breast or elsewhere. 5. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing. 6. Obvious change in wart or mole. 7. Nagging cough or hoarseness. If you have a warning signal, see your doctor. �w. the 1n some cases, chemotherapy is the treat- ment of choice and is con- sidered curative in a few less common cancers. In others, chemotherapy may keep the cancer under control for months or even years. Some may not be benefited at all by chemotherapy. Again, on- ly the doctor can decide how -st to treat the cancer pa- tient. Effects of Chemotherapy Many different drugs may be used in chemotherapy. These drugs work by dif- ferent methods, but in general they prevent the cells from reproducing. Sometimes a cancer cell may become resistant to one drug, much as a germ can become resistant to penicillin. If this happens, the doctor can switch to a different medication or to a combination of drugs. Through the drugs are of different composition and may be given differently, they have some possible side effects in common. Some that may occur are loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tem- porary loss of hair, and sup- pression of bone marrow function. The bone marrow pro- duces blood cells. Periodic blood tests are performed on persons receiving chemotherapy to be sure that their blood is being pro- duced in adequate amounts. Occasionally, sores may develop in the mouth or on the lips. Chemotherapy drugs af- fect rapidly dividing cells, and the cells of the hair Children with cancer ... a from p,:,ge 12 with a physician if unsure of any change in a child's health. What The Main Childhood Cancers Are: LEUKAEMIA is a cancer of blood -forming tissues. In leukaemia, abnormal im- mature white cells increase greatly and invade other tissues and organs. These white cells are not able to function at their normal task of fighting disease which makes the leukaemic child vulnerable to infection or hemorrhage. The child may have a wan appearance and - or listless behavior. New drugs and combined drug treatment have extended lives in some cases for more than 15 years. There are no cures vet for some types of leukaemia. OSTEOGENIC SARCOMA is a bone cancer which develops most often in the forearm or lower leg. There is usually no pain at first, but eventually swelling and dif- ficulty in using the arm or leg is noticed. Any ch-'onic disability or swelling should be brought to the physician's attention. Treatment is surgery which may be com- bined with radiation and chemotherapy. This form of cancer is responding to ag- gressive treatment. CANCERS OF THE NER- VOUS SYSTEM are known as neuroblastomas. Except for 'leukaemia, they are the most frequent form of cancer in children. They oc- cur in certain nerve fibers of the body and can appear anywhere - though usually in the abdomen. The first sign may be swelling of the ab- domen. The treatment of choice is a combination of surgery and drugs, and chances for recovery are ex- cellent. BRAIN TUMORS very early in their course are like- ly to cause blurred or double vision, dizziness, difficulty in walking or handling objects and unexplained nausea. Some of these tumors are curable if diagnosed in time. Treatment is surgery and -or radiation. LYMPHOMAS involve the lymph nodes scattered throughout the body. These nodes act as filters protec- ting the body against the spread of infection. Lym- phomas are not easy to detect, but cause swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpit and groin, gener ed feeling of weals;rfess, possibly fever. Treatment is usually a combination of surgery, radiation and drugs which can hold the disease under effective control for many years. ( Hodgkin's disease is a form of lym- phoma which occurs in young ad,:ts rather than children) . EYE TUMORS occur in c'ldren usually under the age of four. The first sign may be a squint. Later a pearly glint may be noted in the pupil. If this cancer is detected early, cure is possi- ble. Treatment is usually surgery, though radiation is sometimes used in combina- tion with drugs. CANCER OF THE KIDNEY or Wilms' tumor is usually detected by a swell- ing or lump in the child's ab- domen. Treatment is surgery combined with radiation. In selected cases, chemotherapy has also been effective. Centers report in- creasing success with treating this cancer. The Cancer Fighting Team New treatment methods require teamwork among radiologists, surgeons, medical oncologists and the childhood cancer specialist, pediatric oncologists. Other members of the cancer fighting team are nurses, physiotherapists and social workers who help achieve total care for the child with cancer. Hospitals today encourage a strong ;.., rent role during treatment sessions for out- patients. Live-in facilities are often available for t follicles, mouth, skin, stomach, intestines and bone marrow are rapis ly dividing cells, so they are also af- fected. This is why side ef- fects may appear. Nausea and vomiting may be con- trolled by other drugs. If any symptom becomes too severe, the chemotherapy drugs may be stopped and resumed later, or another drug might be substituted. These symp- toms are only temporary and will clear up when the medicine is stopped. Many fortunate patients go through a complete course of treatment with no side effects at all. This does not mean that the drug is not working. The appearance or intensity of side effects has no bearing on how effective the drug will be in treating the cancer. It seems to be a matter of individual tolerance and tumor response. How is Chemotherapy Given? Chemotherapy drugs can be given in several ways. They may be applied as an ointment or lotion as in skin cancer, taken by mouth, or given as an injection into the muscle or vein. They are usually given for several days in succession, followed by a period of rest, then given again. This is one way that has been found to be ef- fective against cancer without damaging the nor- mal cells. Medication is usually given either in the hospital, the doctor's office, or at the outpatient clinic of a hospital. A doctor or a specially trained nurse will parents when a child must undergo a hospital stay. In adlion, the child's family receives emotional support. Other children in the family may visit the clinic and share in playroom activities with the patient; adults sometimes find join- ing a group of parents with the common problem of cancer is helpful. hi The Future. The Canadian Cancer Society has a National Ad- visory Committee on Chita ood Cancer which is investigating every aspect of the disease in relation to our nation's children. The Socie- ty is expanding its programs in Service and Rehabilita- tion. In Public Education, new programs help parents, teachers and school nurses recognize the subtle signs of cancer in young children and emphasize the curability of these cancers. There is a tremendous in- terest in the post-treatment lives of children whose cancers have been brought under control. Regular checkups are providing im- po, ant data on growth and health patterns of these suc- cessfully treated children. Much can be learned to help all future cancer patients through the knowledge gain- ed today by helping children fight the disease. r papa 18 administer the medication. Precautions Resistance to infections may be lowered during chemotherapy treatment. Therefore, .,.:tients should avoid people with colds or other infections. Unless the treatment is accompanied by severe side effects, pa- tients can usually continue their normal activities, in- cluding sexual relations. Unless the doctor states otherwise, there are no scial foods that should be eaten, nor are there any to avoid. No medications, in- cluding vitamins, aspirins, and birth control pills should be taken unless approved or prescribed by the doctor. Chemotherapy is something aut which the patient will have many ques- tions: Will it work? Will I get sick? How will this affect my mate and -or my family? Should I practice birth con- t trol? What kind of con- traception should I use? Pa- tients should disci these questions frankly and thoroughly with their doc- tors. New and Un rove!" Drugs From time to time you will hear of new drugs, or of drugs offered in other coun- tries and not approved by the health agencies of Canada. New drugs, as you .;ve learned, take from one to four years to get to the general public. This is necessary so that people will not be exposed to hazardous and dangerous drugs. The drugs some claim are used with "great success" in other countries are either be- ing tested, or have been tested and rejected by the Food and Drug Directorate. Their toxic effects may far outweigh the beneficial ef- fects. This information is brought to you with the kind co-operation of the follovwil g WAYNE AND HAROLD SMITH CONSTRUCTION LTD. (Y).11.11 L'RCIAL. 1.\'Uf'b'TRl:11. -1 ND RESIDE.VTIAI, BOX 809 SEAFORTH, ONT. Bus. 527-1079 Wayne Res. 262-2121 Harold Res. 527-1421 DAVID SC ENCK AUTO BO uY 38 BIRCH STREET, P.O. BOX 548 SEAFORTH, ONTARIO NOK 1W0 52 7-0526 BANK T RONTO DOMINION the bank where peopOe make the thfference Main St., Seaforth, Ontario WH TN 0 -R I R EY FUNS' AL HO `IF 527-1390 7Goderich St. West Seef©r h Seaforth Insurance Br Seaforth 527-1610 kir Ltd. Donald G. Eaton Kenneth J. Cardno SILVERCREEK SUB VISION Centennial Drive Seaforth