HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-03-27, Page 40*ge 4 -
Children's cancers hard to rec�
.'agents should see that
a child has regular
medical checkups during
pre-school and school
years so that a physician
is familiar with the
development pattern of
the. child. Between
cheekups any abnormal
signs or symptoms for
which there is no obvious
cause should be in-
vestigated. These in-
clude, for example,
nausea, swelling, double
vision, stumbling,
nosebleeds, drowsiness
and listlessness.
Children's cancers are
often hard to recognize
since, like cancers in
adults, they may seem
like trivial disorders and
may not cause a specific
complaint. Parents
should have a healthy
awareness of the
possibility of cancer and
know about the signs and
symptoms of the main
childhood cancers. Check
with a physician if unsure
of any change in a child's
health.
WHAT THE
MAIN CHILDHOOD
CANCER ARE:
LEUKEMIA is a
cancer of blood -forming
tissues. In leukemia,
abnormal immature
white cells increase
greatly andl invade other
tissues and organs.
These white cells are not
able to function at their
normal task of fighting
disease which makes the
leukemic child
vulnerable to infection or
hemorrhage. The child
may . have a wan ap-
pearance and -or listless
behavior. New drugs and
combined drug treatment
have extended lives in
somecases for more than
15 years. There are no
cures yet for some types
of leukemia. •
OSTEOGENIC SAR-
COMA 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 difficulty in using the
arm or leg is noticed. Any
chronic disability or
swelling should be
brought to the physician's
attention. Treatment is
surgery which may be
combined with radiation
and chemotherapy. This
form of cancer is
responding -to aggressive
treatment.
CANCERS OF THE
NERVOUS SYSTEM are
known as
neuroblastomas., except
for leukemia, they are the
most frequent form of
cancer in children. They
cur in certain nerve
f .ers of the body and can
appear anywhere -
though usually in the
abdomen. The first sign
may be swelling of the
abdomen. The treatment
of choice is a combination
of surgery and drugs, and
chances for recovery are
excellent.
BRAIN TUMORS very
early in their course are
likely 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 ism
surgery and -or radiation.
LYMPHOMAS involve
the lymph , nodes scat-
tered throughout the
body. These nodes act as
filters protecting the•
body against the spread
of infection. Lymphomas
are not easy to detect, but
cause swelling of the
lymph nodes in the neck,
armpit and groin,
generalized feeling of
weakness, possibley
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 lymphoma which
occurs in young, adults
rather than
children). EYE
TUMORS occur in
children 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 possible.
Treatment is usually
surgery, though radiation
is sometimes used in
combination with drugs.
CANCER OF THE
KIDNEY or Wilms'
tumor is usually detected
by a swelling or lump in
the child's abdomen.
Treatment is surgery
combined with radiation.
In selected cases,
chemotherapy has also
been effective. Centers
report increasing' success
with treating this cancer.
THE CANCER
FIGHTING TEAM
New treatment
methods require team-
work among radiologists,
surgeons, medical on-
cologists and the
ch"ildhood 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 en-
courage a strong parent
role during treatment
sessions for out-patients:
Live-in facilities are often
available for parents
when a child must un-
dergo a hospital stay.
0
nize
Regular check-ups are important for children
In addition, the child's
family receives
emotional support. Other
children in the family
may yisit the clinic and
share ) in • playroom ac-
tivities with the patient;
adults sometimes find
j ening a group of parents
with • the common
problem of cancer is
helpful.
IN THE FUTURE
The American Cancer
Society has a National
Advisory Committee on
Childhood Cancer which
is investigating every
aspect of the disease in
relation to our nation's
children. The Society is
expanding its programs
in Service and
Rehabilitation. 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 tremendous.
interest in the post-
treatment lives of
children whose cancers
have been brought under.
control. Regular
checkups are providing
important data on growth
and health patterns of
these successfully
treated children. Much
can be learned to help all
future cancer patients
through the knowledge
gained today by helping
children fight the disease.
Cancer research is very costly
Cancer research is
costly. An electron
microscope runs from
$50,000 • to $125,000. An'
ultra -centrifuge is $25,000
while a whole body
scanner can cost as,much
as $800,000, according to
Al Waxman, National
Campaign, Chairman of
the Canadian Cancer
Society.
"Research •funded.
through public con-
tributions to .the Society
also requires new
buildings to house
research centres.
Salaries have to be paid
to • full-time scientists,
laboratory technicians
and assistants. Material
and equipment must be
purchased," said Mr.
Waxman, noted'Canadian
actor and director.
"April is campaign
month" for the . Canadian
Cancer Society. Without
the generous donations of
the Canadian public, our
support of cancer
research would not be
possible. Nor would the
Society be able to con-
tinue its programs of
public education and
service to cancer
patients," he continued.
The entire emphasis of
the 1980 fund-raising and
education campaign is on
action: the action of
protecting • oneself
against cancer; the
action of protecting,
others through support of
cancer research.
"Each dollar given to
the Canadian Cancer
Society goes to work ''n
three ways,"said • the
Campaign Chairman,
"The first part of the
program -- support of
research -- is well-known.
"The second,
education, is approached
from -the. public and
professional standpoint.
Throughout Canada the
Society carries out public
education on the im-
portance ' of early
detection of cancer, when
prompt treatment could
result in a cure. Cancer
prevention is also
stressed. Attention to
early ,symptoins by men
and women can effect
great savings in human
suffering and reduction in
extensive medical costs.
Society films,
publications and con-
ferences bring cancer
news and facts to
members of the medical
and allied professions.
"Much is also done for
the cancer patient
through the making and
distribution of dressings
and other supplies,
transportation, hospital
and home -visiting, and
patient support
programs," said Mr.
Waxman. -
This work can be
supported through the
generosity of the
Canadian public when
they respond to our ap-
peal for funds during the
annual April campaign."
This informative publication is brought to you with the kind co-operation of the following
The oberitb
SIGNAL -STAR
Alexander, Banter
& MacEwan
INSURANCE AGENCY LTD.
10 THE SQUARE, GODERICH, 524-2177