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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-03-27, Page 43Pap test results in early diagnosis and treatment The test for changes in the neck—'of tile womb which indicates the presence of cancer, or of a condition which may lead to cancer, is known as the `Pap test', or the 'Cytology test'. This very important yet very simple test can be carried out in your doctor's office in a matter of minutes. Ask your doctor to in- clude it in your next regular check-up. If you are over 18 years of age, you should take .ad vantage of this safeguard as often as your doctor , recom mends. -.-HOi IS IT DONE? The test is carried out by a doctor who takes a little of the natural moisture from the vagina. In this moisture there is always a large number of tiny cells shed from the womb. These are too small to be seen by the naked eye, so the doctor places a sample between two thin plates of glass, called a slide. This slide is then •sent to a laboratory where the cells are examined under a microscope.. In most women, these cells are absolutely normal. In a very few - about 6 out of every thousand - the cells do not look normal. When this occurs the test is repeated and, if necessary, further examinations made. THEN WHAT? If these further tests show abnormality, a minor operation may be performed in which a small piece of tissue is removed from the neck -of the womb. Very often this will completely eliminate ' the risk of development of this type of , cancer. I't may mean a stay in hospital for a few days, but this minor operation does not interfere with child-bearing,.nor doesit affect the sexual life of the woman who is treated in this way. Even if more extensive treatment is required, the Pap test enables doctors to discover cancer in time so that the chances for complete cure are vastly. increased. GOOD ADVICE: If you are told that ypur test is normal, you •wi11 naturally feel very happy. Remember though that the preser- vation of .good health require'$'that you remain alert' to any unusual syrriptoms, and that you should see your doctor at the first sign of anything. abnormal. Keep in mind that a Pap test is designed only to' detect pre -cancerous changes in the neck of the womb. HAS THE PAP TEST HELPED? The mortality rate from cancer of the cervix was generally an the increase until the early 1950's. That's when the Pap test was introduced to Canadians on a large scale. Since then there has been a significant decline in the death rate from cancer of the cer- vix. There are probably several factors responsible for this decrease. One of the most important is early treatment as a result of the Pap test. Services mailable DRUGS Upon request of the patient's •physician, the Canadian 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 through 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 for a 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, t6 arld 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. April Is the official month for the Canadian Cancer Society to kick off its fund raising campaign. The Huron Unit has a goal of $51,000 this year with the Goderich branch to raise $13,000 as its share of that amount. Les Pit- blado, rural fund raising campaign chairman for the Goderich Branch and Claude Kalbfleisch, urban fund raising campaign chairman are convinced that the goal can be met. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) Research is frustrating Patience as well as --talent- is needed by a cancer research scien- tist; it can be a frustrating occupation. Often a researcher must end his current work and start all over again from the beginning. His lifelong battle against cancer may not rate a .front page newspaper story but his results can still be im- portant as one tiny part of the jigsaw puzzle of this disease. The dedicated in- vestigator might be likened to a small boy learning to tie his shoelaces - one: of life's most baffling un- -d e -r -t a k -in -g s n--de-r-t..a..k-i-n-g•s-: S-ucc-e-s-s comes only after many attempts, some disap- pointments, a final struggle. Cancer is a fact of life. It still exists in spite of all the knowledge we have gained and all the progress made so far. Its secrets are slowly being unravelled through long hard hours of expensive research, funded by the National Cancer Institute of Canada through public donations to the Canadian Cancer Society. Many men and women are involved in basic research, the study of Volunteers... s from page 6 fectious,- not hereditary, not caused by knocks or bumps, or by •what people eat. CANCER IS NEITHER DIRTY OR SHAMEFUL ltd isn't; even new. It. 'existed in animals before men inhabited the earth, and it has been with us since. But because it afflicts the old more than the young so the in- cidence of -it has in- creased as life ex- pectation has increased. People now live long enough to get it. Doctors are now clever enough to diagnose it. And modern industrial life with its smoke and pollution, encourages it. But do not for a moment imagine that ,by trying to replace the what, happens when a -nor rrra l -eel 1-- i s t -r -a -n- sformed into a cancer cell. Some are working with known animal viruses, hormones and the body's immune system. Genetics and chemical carcinogenesis claim the scientific at- tention of other resear- chers. Clinical research is an increasingly,active area, covering such activities as epidemiology and clinical trials of new approaches to -therapy. ' • All are looking • for answers. Some will find "- them. , myths with the facts, you will replace ignorance with truth. It takes a long time and should keep you humble. Be cornforted that at least you have had the opportunity to find out and to assist others in - finding out: Perhaps the most difficult question of all that you will face' is: Why? Why cancer? What is its cause? And the answer is that we do not know' why some cells suddenly begin to behave abnormally, why the control mechanism of the body should suddenly falter. But almost cer- tainly there is more than• one cause. We know for certain that persistent exposure to some industrial chemicals increases the likelihood of developing cancer. And we know that lung cancer is often self- inflicted. Cigarette smokers are much more likely to get. it than non- smokers. We know that it makes great sense for women to have regular Pap tests because . , that test can detect cancer even before it starts. We know that it is wisefor women to examine their breasts for, lumps every month-. after their menstrual period. All this you can offer as advice, if asked, without hesitation. And if you have given up smoking for your own good, and talk sensibly and calmly about cancer for the good of those who will listen, then you, will indeed have made a real contribution to the campaign against . cancer. This informative publication is brought to you with the kind co-operation of the following @ecorc o_ 33 HURON ST., CLINTON 482-9542 ,n 9 ED & BILL STILES STILES FUNERAL HOME ANNE'S BEAUTY CENTRE .._---48-W-E--S-T-STRE ET GODERICH 524-9632