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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-04-01, Page 36page 6 Control the factors which cause 30 per cent of cancer How many times have you heard people say: "From what we hear, everything these days causes cancer. So what can we do about it anyway? Give up eating, drinking, and breathing? We can't control whether or not our number is coming up. We might as well ignore all the warnings about cancer and get on with our lives." Don't be influenced by that attitude. Not `everything causes cancer. But we have already been able to deter- mine that 30 per cent of cancer is caused by factors over which we do have con- trol. And scientists are pro- jecting that eventually they will discover that 80 per cent of all cancer is attributable to these identifiable factors and therefore able to be prevented. Cancer is a fact of life and ignoring it will ,not make it go away. We can fight cancer, but the success of the fight depends on ,each in- dividual. It is up to you to take the first step. You can start by realizing that you can have control over your own health. All it takes is a little bit of effort, and isn't your life worth a little effort? , SMOKING Don't smoke. If you already smoke this advice doesn't come too late for you. Some adverse effects are reversible. So stop smok- ing as soon as possible. Smoking has already been undeniably associated with the . development of lung cancer. The statistics are as- tounding. Most cases of lung cancer occur in people who smoke. Smokers develop lung cancer at about ten times the rate of non- smokers. One out of "every ten smokers of one pack or more a day will develop lung cancer. And one out of eight longterm smokers will die of lung cancer as compared to one out of 200 non-smokers. Lung cancer is one of the least , .curable forms of all cancers. It is fatal in almost popular have less of this type face a risk of lung cancer 10 95 per cent of all cases. of cancer. Mormons and to 20 times that of the Smoking also increases the Seventh-Day Adventists, general population. And risk of cancer of the larynx, who follow a similar low-fat roofers exposed to the fumes` esophagus, mouth, bladder, diet, also have less cancer in of roofing tars may breathe and pancreas. The single these sites. A well balanced in the equivalent in tar of most effective action you diet is recommended. smoking 700 cigarettes a can taketo avoid cancer is day. Elevated risks for dif- not to smoke. OCCUPATION fering types of cancer are The exact toll of workplace found in groups of workers DIET cancer is a matter of con- as diverse as miners, This is an area where cau- troversy. It has been placed petrochemical workers, tion and common sense must as low as one per cent to five woodworkers, smelter be exercised since there is per cent by some workers and even dental. emerging evidence to sug- authorities; on the other technicians and bartenders. gest that dietary factors play hand, the U.S. National The control of cancer - an important role in the Cancer Institute has recent- causing agents in the development of certain ly estimated that at least 20 workplace requires that they cancers. However, the per cent of all cancer may be first be identified: know research concerning diet attributable to occupational what. you are working with. and cancer has not yet been factors. Regardless of the Often they can be eliminated completed so the facts are actual figure, we know some completely from t h e still not conclusive. of the more important workplace by substituting However, on the basis of in- cancer-causing agents found noncarcinogenic substances; '' direct evidence it has been in the workplace - asbestos, - or by changing the work pro - suggested that there is a arsenic, vinyl chloride, cess which generates. them. relationship between our benzene, nickel, chromium, If this is not possible, con - Western eating habits and benzidine, and ionizing trols such as isolation and cancer of the colon, breast radiation, to name a few. local ventilation can be and prostate. People who Smoke, too, can be a hazard engineered into the plant. live in societies where low- of the workplace. Coke oven Personal protective equip - fat, high -fibre diets are more workers in the steel industry ment in the form of 0 0 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, 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. • 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. 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. i!inai Now bring your left arm down to your side, and still using the flat part of your fingers, feel under your armpit. Use the same gentle pressure to feel the upper. outer quarter of your breast from the nipple line to where your arm is resting. And finally, feel the lower outer section of your breast, going from the outer part to the nipple. 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 justafter -- your period. Be sure to continue these checkups after your change of life. If you find a lump or thickening leave it alone until you see your doctor. Dont be frightened Most breast lumps or changes are not cancer, but only your doctor can tell respirators may also be necessary. Workers exposed to carcinogens should undergo regular medical monitoring. OTHER FACTORS Alcohol: While there is no direct evidence that alcohol is itself a carcinogen, a com- bination of heavy drinking, particularly of hard liquor, plus smoking increases the risk of developing cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx and liver. Cancer in these sites is about fifteen times higher in heavy drinkers and smokers than it is in abstainers. The mechanism of these alcohol related cancers is unknown, but it is thought that the alcohol acts as a solvent for tobacco and other en- vironmental carcinogens thereby increasing their ac- cess to the tissues. X-rays: X-rays are a valuable ' diagnostic tool when used correctly by trained health professionals. However, when used in- discriminately they can be dangerous. The more X-rays you submit yourself to and, the higher _th a ose, the greater is your V.sk of cancer. B e an alert medical consumer and inform your dentist, doctor or chiroprac- for about any other X-rays to which you- may have been exposed. Sex: For women: There seems to be 'some relation- ship* between cancer of the cervix and sexual ac- tiveness. If you start inter- course very early in life and have many partners your chances of getting cancer of the cervix may be somewhat increased. You can help pro- tect yourself by having a regular Pap test. For men: The chances of a circumcised man getting cancer of, the penis are vir- tually zero. Even an uncir- cumcised man will rarely get it, though he should make sure to retract his foreskin daily and wash away the secretions with soap and water. HOW to cope.... •frompage5 thought of as dreary and destructive. The world would be worse without it. If no man's life were signifi- cant enough to cause weep- ing, if birth and death were unmarked, if the measure,of our years on earth were nothing, we might better be house ` flies rather than human beings, made in God's image. Profound grief .is preceded by deep love which gives life meaning. In the deepest sense, our days would be empty and futile if we never grieved, or never, dying, left emotional chaos behind us. This Informative publication is brought to you with the kind co-operatiain of the following LAKEPORT STEEL INDUSTRIES LTD. GODERICH HANOVER STEEL & PIPE SUPPLY RR 3 HANOVER 189 South St., GODERICH, ELECTRIC Goderlch 524-9512 RIECK PHARMACY 14 THE SQUARE GODERICH 524-1241