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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-03-27, Page 46Page 10 questions and answers about cancer 1, Wbat Is cancer Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the atiepes.o: utissuesaThis.growth4s ot-subject-tothe. Checks and Controls which limit normal growth, but persists without regard for the needs of the body. Cancer cella differ 'from normal cells in that they have the ability to infiltrate into surrounding normal tissues. Moreover, small clumps of cancer cells may break off from the parent growth and be carried by the blood or lymphatic flow to other parts of the body and become established as secondary gro*ths. 2. What causes cancer? In. experimental animals cancer can be produced by many agents, including certain chemicals, hormones, viruses and radiation. Some of these agents have also been shown to cause cancer in humans, but in most cases of human cancer the cause is not known. There is a direct relationship between the smoking of How the society uses its money RESEARCH Canadian research, largely supported by the public funds donated to the Canadian Cancer Society in its annual April campaign, has made significant con- tributions to the world-wide fight against cancer, including: the "Cobalt Bomb" developed by Dry. Harold E. Johns; vinblastine, a drug useful in treating various forms of cancer, discovered by Dr. R.L. Noble; and radioautography, developed by Dr. C.P. Leblond. Money -is spent on fellowships for individual scientists, the largest part isdevoted to specific aspects of cancer research. Of each dollar donated to the Canadian Cancer Society, 58 cents is given to research. - SERVICE TO PATIENTS Cancer patients often need a special type off care and a special type of support and encouragement. This care andmorale-building interest isprovided by members of the Ontario Division Service to Patients Committee. These volunteers visit patients in homes and hospitals, make dressings, deliver gifts, provide transportation to treatment centres and pain -killing drugs for needy patients. This service requires 15 cents of each dollar. ' EDUCATION One of the most important functions of the Ontario Division of the Society is the education of the people of Ontario about cancer and the manner in which each person can fight the disease. This education is carried on in schools and industry through films, speeches, billboards, publicity material for the media and the distribution of free 'pamphlets such as "Help for Smokers" "Cancer Facts", and "research vs. Cancer". This work takes another 13 cents'of each dollar donated. ADMINISTRATION Although 95 percent of the Society's work is carried out by volunteers, funds are required to pay the salaries of permanent employees and to provide the necessary business equipment in. Ohtario. This takes about 6 cents of each dollar. CAMPAIGN COSTS The time and effort involved in conducting the Society's annual campaign is given freely and voluntarily, but it still costs money to collect money. Campaign posters, canvassers' kits and many other tools necessary for a successful' campaign take 5. cents of each dollar' donated. LODGES There are . four patient lodges in Ontario r.. in Toronto, London, Thunder Bay and Ottawa. These are bright, attractive accommodations ... "a -home away from home" ... for cancer patients undergoing treatment. Many services are provided by Society volunteers. Of each dollar donated 3 cents goes toward the provision of these lodges. SEPARATE CAMPAIGN The Canadian Cancer Society cannot combine its fund-raising with other local campaigns because no joint community appeal could afford the increasing costs of research and provide the facilities necessary to house these projects. The funds required by the Society must cover capital expenditures in research in addition to year-round operating expenses. With the single exception of the National Cancer Institute of Canada, which does not canvass for funds, there are no other organizations affiliated with the Canadian Cancer Society. The Society is a registered Canadian charitable organization under the Income Tax Act and donations to it may be claimed by the donors as in- come tax deductions to the extent provided by the Act. of caner-causin c e 'e ustny a Inumber cigarettes and lung cancer, and ind g h mt..als have been identified, „...aS..f _hav _l ee ,taken teaproteehaverkmen—algaina these hazards,. 3. Can cancer be caused by germs? A number of malignant tumours. in animalsand birds have been shown to be -caused by viruses - the smallest. of the disease -producing gerins.. No viruses have been positively identified with human cancers, although some authorities believe that viruses may play an.important role in this regard. 4. Is cancer contagious•or Infectious? No. There is no evidence that anyone has ever caught cancer by direct or indirect contact with another person who has cancer, or by contact with animals. There is ,apparently no risk to persons looking after cancer patients. Doctors and nurses have done so daily for many years without any i11 effects. 5. Is cancer a single disease? No. Cancer is a family of hundreds off different diseases whose only similarity is that they are all abnormal cell growths. Some cancers are highly dangerous, while others can be cured in almost every case. -Doctors can usually give a reason -iffy ac40161e prediction as to the likely behaviour of any given cancer. 6. Is leukaemia a form of cancer? Yes. Leukaemia is cancer of the blood -forming tissues in which there is excessive and uncontrolled production of white blood cells. In Canada, of the total deaths from all cancer in a single year, approximately 4 percent are caused by leukaemia, one-fifth of these among children under 15 years of age. ' 7. Can cancer be caused by a bruise or sprain or other injury? No. There is no evidence that any cancer has ever been caused by injury alone, although it is possible that injuries such as bruises and sprains may oc- casionally accelerate the growth of pre-existing cancer. 8. How Is food related to cancer? Little is known about diet in relation to cancer but research is being carried out to explore the possible role of food habits in the occurrence of cancer in various countries and population groups.. _ 9. If a parent dies from cancer, are the children more likely to develop this disease? No. Familial tendencies do occur, but 'as -a- general rule, children of parents who have died from cancer are no more likely to develop cancer than anyone else. 10. Are the results of animal studies on cancer ap- plicable to human beings? Much of our fundamental knowledge of human cancer has-been learned from the study of the disease in experimental animals. Without such animal studies it is. higly unlikely that our.knowlege would have advanced to its present stage. All new cancer remedies, particularly the new drugs, were first tested on animal tumours. 11. How does cancer spread through the body? The spread of cancer, known aa metastasis, can happen in three ways: a) cancer cells may grow directly from one tissue to another; • b) they "fiiay enter lymphatic %channels. and spread to' lymph nodes b. ' c) they may gain access to blood vessels and spread to distant parts of'the body through the blood. 12. How fast does cancer grow? There is a wide variation in the rates of growth of different types of cancer. Even the same type of cancer in 'different, patients may grow at different rates. 13. Does the use of alcohol bear any relation to cancer? Excessive use of alcohol over long periods .of time does seem to have a relationship to cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach. 14. Can immunity to cancer be acquired as in the case of diphtheria, typhoid fever or polio? ; ' ..There are no vaccines or toxoids which will protect us against cancer. However, healthy bodies have natural defences and'rnuch effort is being devoted to research into ways of reinforcing these defences. 15. What is the danger from. air 'pollution or in- dustrial chemicals? Exposure to certain chemicals and irritants in in- dustry has been linked to increased cancer rates. Pollution, particularly of the air in large city areas, has been shown to contribute to health problems. Thus, cigarette smokers run an even greater risk if they live in a city having serious air pollution. It should be the duty of every Canadian to become familiar with the health hazards of his or her com- munity, and to work actively to correct abuses resulting from neglect or ignorance. 16. Is progress being made in cancer research? Research into the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer is progressing on a broad basis in many countries, including Canada. It has been proven, for example that certain physical and chemical compounds, hormones and virusescan cause cancer in animals. New methods of in- vestigation have mad e_possib a rh� he-co,riparison of t normal cell with the cancer cell. There have been improvements in surgical methods, making it possible for patients to have major operations and- live com fortably afterwards. Progress -hae been made&too-ht the technical aspects. -of --radiation therapy with the V-4;levelopment of-variouritindadreuringrraye ha-nse--._...,. of drugs and hormones in treatment halds promise for thee -.future:. Nevertheless, the final coaque, t of All forms of cancer still eludes us, and the struggle must be_intensiiled. More than 45 .per cent of the funds raised, annually by the. Canadian Cancer Societyis directed against cancer through research. To date some 42 million dollars has been spent by the Society for the support of the nationwide research programme delving into the many facets of the cancer problem. 17, Is cancer increasing? The number of new cancer cases diagnosed each year per thousand of our population is, increasing slowly. The increase is, thought to be due mostly to improved methods of diagnosis leading to more frequent recognition of the disease, andto the fact that more ,and more of our population are living longer, thereby 'reachingthe so-called cancer age group. However, there has been an increase in the rate of lung cancer among men, and in both men and women an increase in leukaemia. Is.. Hoyt does -tamer .compare with other diseases as acause of death? It occupies second place to diseases of the heart and blood vessels which account for more than twice as many deaths as cancer. The following table shows the number of deaths for Canada in 1973 under the three major causes. Heart and Circulatory Diseases - 80,330; Cancer - 33,069; and Accidents and Violence - 16,812. 19. Can children have cancer? Yes, in 1972 in Canada 222 children under the age of 15 died of cancer which is second only to accidents as a cause of death in this age group! 20. Do more women than men die from cancer? No. This was once the case, but not since 1945 when the increase of lung cancer in ,men put male cancer Turn to page 11 • This informative publication is brought to you with the kind co-operation of the fallowing WORSELL BROS. PLUMBING & HEATING EXPERTS THE SQUARE GODE RICH 524-7952 HOFFMEYER PLUMBING & HEATING INGLIS APPLIANCES 55 KINGSTON ST. GODERICH 524-7861 DAVE HAYLOW ELECTRICAL Serving Industrial, Commercial, Residential Needs 324-6038 W. J. HUGHES REALTY LTD. Ij tI , REALTY WORLD MEMBER BROKER 38 EAST ST., GODERICH 524-8100