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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-04-01, Page 41page d Practise breast self-examination for protection Every day people take steps to safeguard the health andhappiness of themselves and those who depend on them. They put savings in the bank to ensure their • future welfare; they take out life insurance to protect their families and elect governments to provide' for national and local security. Yet often they forget about the simple, routine and un - costly steps to health and security that take little time to learn and practise. For ex- ample, for women — BSE — Breast Self -Examination. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, this simple monthly examination is the best screening test currently available for detecting changes in the breast. Yet a large percentage of Cana- dian women don't practise Breast Self -Examination. For some, fear and ig- norance lead to neglect of the simple BSE technique. Unfortunately, doctors agree, many women are panic-stricken at the discovery of a lump. Their fear often leads to delay — the worst action that anyone can take. The best hope for handling any medical problem is to catch it at an early stage so that proper diagnosis and treatment quickly follow. Here are some reassuring facts (for the fearful or unknowing) : —as many as 85 percent of lumps in the breast are benign and not a serious health hazard; • —through routihepractice of BSE women can learn to detect changes in their breasts themselves;. —the earlier a breast lump is detected, diagnosed and treated the better is the chance for full recovery. Cigarette smoking causes overtime duty and stress on system • If you are a heavy smoker, you force your heart to beat approximately a million ex- tra times a year. That is a lot of overtime duty and un- necessary stress on your whole cardiovascular system. Now is the time to make a New Year's resolu- tion to become a non- smoker. It just takes deter- mination to break the( smok- ing habit. All cigarette smokers are addicted to nicotine and with every cigarette smoked it becomes harder to stop. Harder, but not impossible. The Canadian Cancer Socie- ty suggests that smokers try to stop smoking for good. Many smokers try to cut down cigarette consumption gradually over a few weeks before stopping. But it has been found that the most sue; cessful quitters — the ones who don't ever take up smok- ing again — are those who stop abruptly. Cold turkey. Before taking that decisive step it is helpful to begin by choosing a date, perhaps a week from now, and starting a countdown calendar. It will also be easier to stop com- pletely if you make a list of what you, don't like about smoking and keep adding to , it. Some smokers find it helps- to elpsto bet with a friend that they can quit and most tell their families and friends of their plans. Those who know you want to stop smoking can help to keep ashtrays, cigarettes and matches out of your way and can try to be understanding of the ir- ritability you will feel when you first stop smoking. , _ Once the "quitting day" arrives, resolve to throw away,,, any cigarettes you have left and to never smoke again. By changing your pat- terns of behaviour connected with smoking and finding a distraction when you crave a cigarette, you will find that you can break an old habit. It is normal to,, feel hungrier than usual for the first few weeks after you have quit because food smells and tastes better once the nerves in your nose and mouth are no longer deaden- ed by irritating smoke. It sometimes helps to drink water or juice in between meals if you have a craving for food. With time, you should no longer feel the urge to smoke and you will have the im- measurable bonus of better health that comes with being a non-smoker. Fortunately, the effects of cigarette smok- ing are reversible — a smoker who stops smoking while still in good health has a health and life expectancy similar to a non-smoker. When any abnormality is reported to a doctor, there are several mod'ern techni- ques which can be used as diagnostic tools: 'mam- mography' or 'xerography' is an x-ray technique which • outlines the breast tissue and highlights problem sites; 06016092.611. `thermography' measures the heat output of the breast; 'biopsy' refers to the removal of tissue from the lump area for microscopic examination. Yet of all the detection devices, the one which is least costly, does not require any medical equipment or personnel and can be per- formed monthly in the home is BSE; the Society says. Early detection through BSE, diagnosis and treat- ment are the best safeguards to health. They make sense — like taking out life in- surance or providing for a child's future. BSE is life protection. The Canadian Cancer Society sponsors films and circulates pamphlets on the BSE technique. Contact the local unit of the Society for further information. Meet some of the members of the Clinton Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. Back row, .left to right, are Eleanor Fisher, commemoration chairman, Rita Flynn, transportation chairman, Carol Bowker, education and Mary Murphy,'PD&N chairman. Front row, left to right, are Barbara Howson, education, Helen Davies, president and Marie Jefferson, treasurer. Absent for photo were Bill Stauttener, secretary and Gerry Holmes, campaign chairman. The Clinton branch was just formed last year. (photo by Joanne Buchanan) Society produces program The Canadian Cancer Society has produced one of the most thoroughly resear- ched programs in the world to teach high school students about cancer in their biology and social studies classes. The Western Education Development Group. of the University of British Colum- bia prepared the two manuals , and supporting material for the Society. The materials were reviewed by volunteers and educators in every Division of the Society and then the programs were field tested last year in hun- dreds of classrooms from coast to coast. The response from students and teachers who have used the manuals has been very enthusiastic, ac- cording to officials of r, the Society. And test results in- dicated that those students who followed the programs made significant gains in knowledge and attitudes with respect to cancer. • The clearly illustrated biology manual, "The Wild Cells", defines cancer and, along with slides and in- structions for experiments explains aspects of major types of cancer. The pro- gram discusses cancers of the lung, blood, breast, cer- vix and skin and how they are identified and treated. A section on recent advances in cancer research is also in- cluded. Complementing the biology manual is the social studies manual, "Lifestyles"..,It concentrates on prevention, early detec- tion and coping with cancer. Various case studies of cancer patients, including a film, "Cathy", about a -young mother with bone cancer, are used to help students see how people deal with the disease. Another major section of the manual suggests ways that students can help to prevent cancer — by deciding to be a non- smoker, for instance — and to learn more about the early signs of cancer. Both manuals are attrac- tively presented and use the most up-to-date material available at the time of - publication. The biology manual uses the latest statistics for graphs while the social studies manual in- cludes several current news stories. Half will live Cancer can be beaten. This year, 74,000 new cancer pa- tients will be diagnosed for the first time but at least half of these people will be alive and well five years after treatment,- says the Cana- dian Cancer Society. 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