The Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-03-31, Page 45e is sweet to her now
Page 3
e credits science for life
er research saved
Swatuk's life from
mphocytic leukemia.
to the work of
ss scientists, she is
althy and happy and
a lively love affair
e age of 12, when
at Toronto's Sick
en's Hospital
sed her constant
as a symptom of
'a, Barbara's life was
ned. That was 11 years
fact that I was
y ill at a young age
adually got better,
d the affect the
had on my life," said
a who is now an active
r old. She has since
d and is managing a
of horses on a farm in.,
rg, Ontario.
course I was never
lized • longer than a
and a half at a time,"
lained. "And because
ents didn't put a label
illness --- I just thought
a blood problem --- I
have the worry of
with the disease. I
grow up a normal
ara's beauty lies not so
in her green eyes and
charming smile but more in
the obvious pleasure she gets
out of living. She hardly
remembers her early years of
leukemia.
"When I was growing up, I
was concentrating on who I
was going to go out with and
what party I was going to. I
didn't think about my
illness.
"It didn't bother me that I
had to go for needles twice a
week because diabetics and
people with allergies had to
get theirs too. I wasn't the
only one, all those other kids
were there."
When first diagnosed in
1965 as having lymphocytic
leukemia, the most common
form of childhood cancer, no
one expected her to live more
than one or two years.
"I didn't know about my
disease until I decided to get
married three years ago,"
she said. "When the doctors
told me, I was really shocked
to find out." She smiled at her
naivete. "I didn't think I was
different because there were
other kids with problems
too."
Dr. Norman Boyd, a
clinical epidemiologist
supported by the National
Cancer Institute of Canada,
explained that the spec-
tacular increase in five year
survival rates has come
about only in the Last five
years.
"It is difficult to know the
specific treatment that in-
creased the five year survival
rate among childhood
leukemias," said Dr. Boyd.
"It was at a time when
changes were introduced in
the way drugs were given as
well as the start 'of using
radiation."
Dr. Boyd said that therapy
in childhood leukemia is very
effective. "But at the
moment," he said, "we are a
long waylrom preventing the
disease."
Barbara's pretty face lit
up. "I think it's great . . . I
mean, it's marvellous that
I'm cured! I've been off
medication for two years and
I feel fine.
"When I was really sick at
the beginning, well-
intentioned friends suggested
that my father take me to
Switzerland where some man
had a special dig;. that sup-
posedly could cure leukemia.
I don't think I'd be here today
if my parents had taken me
off hospital treatment."
Dr. M. Sonley was Bar-
bara's physician at Toronto's
Sick Children's Hospital when
she was first admitted.
Dr. Sonley pointed out that
Barbara got all the drugs that
are given to patients now,
only she got them one at a
time -- now they are given in
combination.
"At the time her illness was
diagnosed the average sur-
vival rate, without any
treatment, was about 3
months. With chemotherapy,
the average survival rate was
roughly 12 to 18 months. Now,
through research and better
treatment, 50 percent of these
young patients live 5 years or
more. We have had some
children who, after diagnosis,
have lived 15 anti 20 years and
may be considered cured. We
are still continuing to make
changes in the treatment
method to increase the
survival rate even more,"
said Dr. Sonley.
Dr. Peter Schdlefield,
Assistant Executive
Director of the National
Cancer . Institute of Canada,
the sister organization af-
filiated with the Canadian
Cancer Society, said there is
still a great deal of work
being done on leukemia . in
this country.
"Currently the Institute is
spending more than a million
and a half dollars a year on
leukemia research," said Dr.
Scholefield. "We could spend
a lot more in this area of
cancer if we had the money."
Up to 95 percent of the
funds used by the Institute is
provided by the Canadian
Cancer Society which raises
the money from Canadians
during the Society's annual
' April appeal for funds.
This year the Cancer
Society's national campaign
ofjective is 13.5 million
dollars.
Barbara was asked what
she thought about cancer
research.
"I guess I'm living proof
that it has come a long way.
In my case ..it worked.
Obviously it is very im-
portant."
IBUTION
ER
IBUTION
ER
LE
Won out over leukemia
Eleven years ago Barbara Swatuk, seen here with one of her horses, had leukemia. Now,
thanks to treatment, she is a healthy, active 23 year old. Barbara Swatuk knows cancer
can be beaten. She beat it.
This Informative publication is brought to you with the kind co-oporation of the following
t Ooaerttb
SIGNAL -STAR
Alexander & Chapman
Insurance & Real Estate
0ODERICH
$ THE SQUARE
S24 -9K!
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GODERICH
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