HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-04-01, Page 39Skin cancer is twice as
comm+orn here in Canada
"Melanoma, a rare and
serious type of skin
cancer, is twice as
common in Canada as it
was 15 years ago," says
Dr.. J. M. Elwood, of
Vancouver.
To find out why this is
so, the four western
provinces . are co-
operating in a study of the
disease, thought to be the
first of its. kind. It ' is
directed by Dr. Elwood,
head of the Department
of Epidemiology for the
Cancer Control Agency
of B.C. and is funded by
the National Cancer
Institute of Canada,
through public donations
to the Canadian Cancer
Society.
"We plan to obtain
information on the
causative factors of
melanoma primarily
through interviews,"
says Dr. Elwood. "We
want to ,identify the in-
dividual factors which
might explain why some
people get melanoma and
some people don't."
Home interviews .will
be conducted with • 750
people who develop
melanoma within the
next two years and will
range aver a variety of
questions such as place of
birth, occupation, history
This informative publication is brought to you
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of illness, diet, and use of
medical drugs and
hormones. Exposure to
sunlight will also be
studied.
A control group of a
similar number of people
of the same age and sex,
representing the generale
population, also will be
interviewed. The study
will require the
assistance of the cancer
registries in the four
western provinces and
the date will be analyzed
in Vancouver.
Thestudy will include a
paihology review of all
tumors as well as sur-
vival and prognosis
records. This part of the
investigation is expected
to produce information on
long term outlook for
patients.
page 9
Jean Ginn (right) was recently presented with a plaque by Zella Crawford, on behalf. of the
Goderich Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society; in appreciation of her many faithful and
enthusiastic years in the society.
Detectthe early signs of cancer
A • new .public education
program is being launched
this fall that uses warm, col-
orful and instructive cartoon
characters to explain the
early signs of cancer.
.For the- -next -.two-years_.
these characters will pro-
mote the Canadian Cancer
Society message: "Don't
sign your life away. Learn •port,material, offers living
the signs of caner," through testimony of several Cana -
animated television spots, dians who - noticed a sign of
radio promos, transit cards, cancer, went promptly, to
window streamers , their doctors and have now
billboards and display cards. "got back to the business of
living,"- as -one personsaid.-
The new program' serves
two purposes: to reacquaint
the public, especially those
=A new Expo- display- and -a-
new 16mm film will also be
used. The film, which will be
accompanied by print sup -
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CLINTON
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forty and over, with symp- -
tomato be checked by a.doc-
tor, and to diminish fear
associated with the symp-
toms in particular and with
cancer in general:
In 1977, an extensive na-
. tional survey by the Cana-
dian Cancer Society on opi-
nions,
pinions, attitudes and
behaviour of Canadians in
relation to cancer revealed a
lack of awareness of the
signs Of cancer in several'
.areas.'\ The seven signs that
the new . program wild con-
centrate on are: blood in
urine or stool, a sore that
does not heal, a thickening or.
lump in the neck, armpit or
groin, prolonged indigestion,
an obvious change in a mole
and a persistent cough or dif-
ficulty m swallowing.
This survey also revealed
• a positive 'relationship
• between. fear, ignorance of.
cancer symptoms, and treat'
ment. People delay seeking
treatment because they are
afraid, afraid of treatment,
afraid that cancer is an
automatic death sentence,
afraid of even hearing the
word "cancer". By inform-
ing the public of symptoms
in a supportive way, the
Society hopes to increase
lifesaving knowledge and
lessen the fear that con-
tributes to delay.
The cartoon characters •
emphasize the need 'to
recognize those signs and to
see a doctor promptly,. while
they balance that warning
with the fact that many peo-
ple with such symptoms do
not have cancer. This theme
encompasses the first three
steps of the "Seven Steps to
Health" which advise Cana-
dians to have a medical and
dental checkup, to watch for
any change in one's normal
state of health and to find out
about any lump or sore that
does not heal.
In addition, the new public
education program of the
Canadian Cancer Society,
tries to inform the publie of
the signs of cancer in an un-
threatening way with the
help of the cartoon drawings.
As the characters state in
"Learn the Signs of
Cancer": "Life is full of
signs. Signs that advise.
Signs that warn. When it
comes to cancer...know the
signs."
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Mel Farnsworth, president of the Goderlch Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society, took
part In the town's bike-a-thon for cancer last year which netted over $5,000. Here, volunteer
Barry Bogie checks off the miles at one of the check points for Mr. Farnsworth. This year's
bike -a -thou has been set for April 26. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan)