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hildhood tumour left Leslie Lamb with only one kidney at the age of three. Today the
gster is full of vitality - thanks to early diagnosis and treatment.
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lean environment
akes world safe
eful examination and
I of harmful chemicals
ay's environment could
tomorrow's world a
place for our children,
ng to Toronto scientist
hn A. Heddle.
a large number of
als in existence some
own to he mutagenic,
able of causing genetic
ion. And there may be
more, as yet untested,
r. Heddle.
may, in our ignorance
using these chemicals,
ting them around us,
Ging them in ever -
sing numbers -- be
rtently causing an
se in the cancer rate."
link between genetic
is and inherited
nancy is of consuming
st to a growing number
ntists. Alteration of the
cell structure and
ons by damaging
nces has long been
wledged but it is only
recently that scientists
been able to establish
hese substances, called
ens, may well cause
cs defects which can,
g the process of
action, he passed on to
xtgeneration.
Heddle, of York
rsity, has for some time
involved in the study of
osome damage in the
cells involved in the
reproduction process.
Working with Dr. W. Robert
Bruce, of the Ontario Cancer
Institute, in Toronto, he
discovered that, in sperm
tests on mice, the presence of
a mutagen caused an ab-
normality in the shape of the
sperm -head. Not all
mutagens are carcinogenic,
or cancer-causing, but as Dr.
Heddle points out,
chromosome damage of any
sort can have disastrous
consequences for the unborn
baby.
In two separate mutagen -
detecting procedures using
mice, Drs. Heddle and Bruce
are enjoying a success rate
high enough to convince them ,
• ffi (/
• X •
that screening of this sort is
vital. We shouldn't, says Dr.
Heddle, knowingly produce
mutagens -- even if they
aren't carcinogens -- sincg
chromosomal damage,
whether of a malignant
nature or not, must be
avoided if newborn babies of
the future are to have the best
possible chance of a long and
healthy life.
Screening tests to measure
environmental pollutants are
among the many research
projects in the country funded
by the National Cancer
Institute of Canada through
the annual fund-raising
campaign of the Canadian
Cancer Society.
Environmentalists know
Page 7
old
cured
checksago
Leslie Lamb ran across the admittance to the Hospital for
playing field, her shoulder Sick Children in Toronto.
length ash -blonde hair j A biopsy confirmed that she
blowing in the breeze as she had a Wilm's tumour, an
kicked at the ball, missed and uncommon form of cancer
tumbled. She got up laughing. that develops in children
A nine-year old, vibrant with usually before they are six
health. But she hasn't always years old. Twenty years ago
been like that; there was a the chance of surviving a
time when she tired easily, Wilm's tumour was
when she had to struggle just negligible, but today, because
to live. There was a time of improved treatment,t
when cancer wasted her tiny techniques, 75 percent of the
body. patients go on to lead normal
But that was six years and active lives.
100 check-ups ago. Today, For two months she
doctors at the Princess received radiation and
Margaret Hospital in Toronto chemotherapy treatments at
have given Leslie'a clean bill the Princess Margaret
of health. Now she is playing Hospital to destroy the cancer
school soccer, as well as 'cells in her liver and lung and
anyone in her grade 4 class, to shrink and contain the
thanks to modern treatment tumour in her abdomen
techniques. before the surgeons operated.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Lamb, On October 21, 1969 doctors
of RR 1 Bowmanville, removed the growth as well
described their reaction as as one of her damaged kid -
shocked surprise when they neys.
first heard of their daughter's For the next two years,
disease. Leslie continued to receive
"It was our family doctor out-patient treatments at the
'who detected the tumour in Princess Margaret Hospital.
her abdomen when she was Her small round face became
about three," explained Mrs. drawn and lean, then her
Lamb. "But by that time beautiful hair fell out in
cancer had destroyed her handfuls as a side-effect from
kidney and spread into her the chemicals. But the
liver and up into her'lun•g. It treatments were working.
took my husband and I She was getting better.
completely by surprise -- we "I guess I'm just a natural
never dreamed our only child optimist," said Mrs. Lamb,
would have cancer." "because I don't recall ever
Mrs. Lamb recalled when thinking that we were going
she first noticed unusual to lose our daughter. The
symptoms in Leslie's health. doctors were honest with us
It was early June 1969. and told us truthfully that
"We were walking home Leslie's chances were not
from town one day, not a long very good, but even then
walk, when suddenly she neither I nor my husband lost
became terribly tired. Every ' hope."
hundred feet or so she would By the summer of 1971
have to sit down and rest. But Leslie's chemotherapy was
her tiredness disappeared the completed and she was on her
next day as mysteriously as it way to recovery. There was
had come." time to start kindergarton
A week later Leslie was and best of all time enough to
running a high fever for no grow a short crop of hair.
apparent reason and corn- "Before Leslie's ex-
plaining of stomach cramps. perience, cancer was a
"That's when my husband frightening word to me," said
and I took her to our family Mrs. Lamb, "but since than I
doctor. We thought it was have learned a lot about it ...
appendicitis but he found no one thing I know now is that it
symptoms. We took her back can be beaten."
to him about a week later This year the Canadian
when the fe,ver and cramps Cancer Society will conduct
recurred. It was on our its April campaign across
second visit when the doctor Canada to raise money to
felt the mass in her ab- support cancer research as
dcimen." well as carrying out its
The doctor took one look at program of service to
Leslie's x-rays then quickly patients and public
made arrangements for her education.
This informative publication is brought to you with the kind co-operation
of the following
R
We J. HUGHES
• SHEAFFER EATON
REALTY LTD.
ED. & BILL STILES
TEXTRON
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