Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-04-01, Page 37Nell Hostetler, (second -from left), chairman of patient services for the southwestern Ontario district, was present at the annual meeting of the Huron Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society in Clinton in March. Here she discusses patient services with, from left, Mary McLaughlin, Wingham's patient services chairman, Marg Allen, Huron Unit's patient services chairman and Marg Makins, Huron Unit's secretary.( Photo by Joanne Buchanan) Did you know... ` All about chemotherapy Chemotherapy means treatment of a disease by the use of drugs. In this case, the disease is cancer. 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 discoveringnew 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 approved by the Food and Drug Directorate of Health and Welfare Canada for general use. From the time 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 .par- ticular situation, 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. In 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 best to treat the cancer pa- tient. EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY Many different drugs may be used in chemotherapy. These drugs work by several different 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 Afferent medication or to a combination of drugs. Though 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 produces blood cells. Periodic blood tests are per- formed 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 follicles, mouth, skin, stomach, intestines and bone marrow are rapidly 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 symptoms are only temporary and will clear up when the medicine is stop- ped. 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. HOWLS 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 administer the medication. Precautions Resistance to infections may be lowered during chemotherapy treatment. Therefore, patients 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, thele are no special foods that should be eaten, nor are there any to Turn to page 8 page? Services available DRUGS Upon request of the patient's physician, the Caf,►adian 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 agency. 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 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 thronugh the .Foundation Clinics. Volunteers of the Canadian Cancer Society provide comfort and companionship to patients who are in residence at these lodges. HOUSEKEEPING Society funds are available for a Homemaker Service to a -family- in -extreme need fora 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. Have regular check-ups with your doctor This informative publication 1n 9T is brought to you with the kind co-operation • - c>1'( Clinton N e I c. 1 of the following ,._ . i Clinton Community , • Credit Union CLINTON - ecora td.T 33 HURON ST., CLINTON 432-9542