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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-03-26, Page 37HOPE page 8 Gerry Holmes, campaign chairman with the Clinton Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society, and Steve Brown, special events chairman, also with the Clinton Branch, look over some of the many pamphlets which the Cancer Society produces. They got together recently to discuss the April fund-raising campaign for the Clinton area. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) Pamphlets available at office Everyone has questions about cancer. What is cancer? What are the risk factors? How is it detected and diagnosed? What types of treatment are available and how effective are they? What are the hopes for the future? To answer these and other questions, the Canadian Cancer Society has produced a series of pamphlets which contain authoritative information that's easy to read and understand. They are free. So why not answer your questions by asking for these pamphlets at your local Huron County Unit office, 20 Isaac Street, Clinton, phone 482-7832. PapT»sVi FiPIptJt'1i • from page 7 microscope. In a "cone -biopsy", the doctor removes a cone-shaped piece of the cervix which may not only be helpful in diagnosis, but also as treatment. Another simple diagnostic procedure is a "colposcopy," which is done in much the same way as a Pap test. The doctor uses a special microscope to examine the tissues of the cervix and vagina. If abnormal cells are found, one simple treatment is "cryotherapy," a procedure which 'freeze -burns' away the abnormal cells and is often done in a special clinic. It is unlikely to have any effect on a woman's fertility or future child bearing. Another simple treatment. is "laser cautery," where a very fine, precise beam of focused light vaporizes pre -cancerous cells on the cervix or vagina. GOOD ADVICE If you are told that your test is normal, you will naturally feel very happy. Remember though that the preservation of good health requires that the test should be Facts on lung cancer Lung cancer is now one of the best known of lung cancer today, it is important to and most feared of all diseases. There are understand how it affects the lungs. Smok- good reasons for this reaction. In Canada in Mg causes hang cancer in two ways. First of 1982, about 9,400 people were diagnosed as all smoke inhalation damages the normal having lung cancer, and 8,700 Canadians cleansing processes by which the lung pro- died of it. However, this situation can tects itself from injury. The tube-like struc- change in the coming years - primarily tures (bronchi) which conduct inhaled air to through decreasing the number of cigarette the lung tissue are lined with a single layer smokers. of cells on which lies a protective coating of other substances such as mucus. Hair-like cilia on these cells beat in Although o and Cher tartan products can cause rhythmic fashion to move the mucus con- asbestoscoaltinnally upwards from the lung, removing lung cancer, at least 90 percent of the any inhaled particles which have been trap - disease is related to smoking. The other in- ped in the sticky mucus. The effectiveness haled cancer -producing substances in- of this cleansing mechanism is destroyed crease the risk for the smoker. Non-smokers very quickly by smoke inhalation, because are less often affected by these substances. the cilia disappear and the lining thickens in Not only does smoking contribute to lung an attempt to protect the delicate underly - cancer but also to cardiovascular disease, ing tissues from damage. an even greater killet of Canadians, and to other chronic lung diseases such as em- When these changes have occurred, the physema. ' lung can no longer keep itself clean. Con - Lung cancer is largely preventable, and sequently, cancer -producing agents in the the best protection is never smoking. For cigarette smoke remain trapped in the those who do smoke, quitting is the best mucus on the surface lining of the airway course 'of action. In ex-smokers the risk of tong enough to pass into the cells before developing lung cancer falls rapidly over these substances can be removed by the years, becoming similar to that of non- coughing, the only cleansing mechanism smokers,. after 10 to 15 years of total which remains. Once within the body, these abstinence. Fortunately, the greatest im- chemicals, or their products, can alter the provement is in the first two to three years. 1 nature of the cells slowly and progressively until cancer develops. Cigarette smoking is therefore a cancer- producing form of pollution in the inhaled air which possesses not only the ability to destroy the cleansing mechanism, but also dangerous, cancer -producing chemicals. Other inhaled carcinogens will of course represent an additional hazard for the smoker once the effective cleansing func- tion no longer protects the lung. However, when they are inhaled by a non-smoker who has a healthy bronchial lining, there is less risk. It is important to realize that once the cause of damage - tobacco smoke - is withdrawn, the 'cleansing function can be repaired. Therefore, it is never too late to stop smoking. The risk of lung cancer increases with the total amount of exposure. In cigarette smok- ing several factors are involved in deter- Lh- � artij' Lexpa ure, including the duration. of smoking, the number of cigaret- tes smoked and the depth of inhalation. Con- trary to previous theories, women who share the same smoking history as men also share identical risks. The person at greater risk is one who has smoked for many years (e.g., over 20 years), who has averaged more than 20 cigarettes per day and who has inhaled free- ly. For this person the risk may be increas- ed by as much as 15-30 times compared to that of a non-smoker. Starting smoking ear- ly makes it possible for, a person to have smokedheavily for at least 20 years by the age of 35. The person who has, smoked only pipes or cigars and never cigarettes, tends to "puff" rather than inhale freely, and therefore has less risk of developing lung cancer than a cigarette smoker, although it is an increas- ed risk compared to a non-smoker's. It is important to realize that it doesn't'do much good for cigarette smokers to switch to pipes and cigars. Unfortunately, once the habit of inhalation has been learned as a Cigarette smoker, the individual who swit- ches tends to continue inhaling when smok- ing either pipes or cigars. Indeed, the total smoking exposure may actually be increas- ed by this change. OTHER RISK FACTORS Today lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in men and the third leading cause in women (and indeed soon to surpass all others if present smoking trends in women are not altered). Therefore, it is vital that both public and professional ef- forts be' directed at effectively controlling this "epidemic". WHAT IS LUNG CANCER? Because of the different manner in which tissue cells in the same organ system may respond to varying types of exposure to cancer producing agents, several different types ,of cancer may be found in any organ. This is well illustrated by the primary cancers affecting the lung which are described below. The first three types arise in the lining membrane of the airway in the area most exposed to inhaled pollutants. Sqc---cell._mex.ren _resents the ' largest number of lung cancers (approx- imately) 40-50 percent. •Large cell undifferentiated cancer is found in about 15 percent -25 percent of lung cancer cases. •Oat cell cancers (small cell undifferen- tiated lesions) account for 15 percent to 20 percent of all lung cancer. Because it spreads rapidly from its characteristically central location, surgery is rarely the best treatment. However, encouraging results have been obtained with chemotherapy with this kind of lung cancer. •Adenocarcinoma usually arises in .the outlying areas of the lung. The incidence rate is lower (10 percent -15 percent) than for the preceding types and the disease may occur in non-smokers. • • • repeated regularly. You should also remain alert to any unusual symptoms such as spot- ting after intercourse, or bleeding after the menopause. You should see your doctor at the first sign of anything abnormal. Keep in mind that though the Pap test is very suc- cessful in detecting cervical cancer, which is found in the neck of the womb, it isn't as effective in detecting the other major form of uterine cancer, endometrial cancer. This is a type of cancer found in the lining of the uterus which is called the endometrium. Here, the reporting of any abnormality and regular gynecological exams will help in the early detection and treatment. HAS THE PAP TEST HELPED? The mortality rate from cancer of the cer- vix'was generally on the increase until the early 1950s. That's when the Pap test was in- troduced to Canadians on a large scale by the Canadian Cancer Society. Since then there has been a significant decline in the death rate from cervical cancer. One of the most important reasons is early treatment as a result of the Pap test. •Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma arises in even more outlying areas and accounts for less than 5 percent of the total number of cases. It may also occur in non-smokers. •Rare cancers of other types may also be found, although they too represent a very small percentage (less than 5 percent) of the total number of cases. CAUSES OF LUNG CANCER As cigarette, smoking is the major cause This information is brought to you with the kind co-operation of the following: You'll do better at Th . l HWY. NO. 4, ONE MILE SOUTH OF BLYTH, ONT. P.O. BOX 11 LEATHER SPECIALIST KNOWN THROUGHOUT CANADA v°i 'BROWN MOTORS LTD. CLINTON 482-9321 PARTS DEPT. 482-7141 FRAN_I KLING LTD. General Electric Dealer For Over 40 Years 527-1320 Seaforth The First Canadian Bank Bank of Montreal CLINTON - EXETER - GODERICH - WINGHAM As already indicated, the interference with the lung's cleansing processes explains the peculiar significance of cigarette smok- ing. Other forms of inhaled pollutants, par- ticularly repeated industrial exposures, may increase the risk for the smoker who has already destroyed the ' cleansing mechanism within his lung, although they can also affect the non-smoker. This effect has been noted in exposure to the following agents: asbestos, chromium, nickel, coal tar products and radioactive uranium. Indeed the risk of developing lung cancer has been increased 50 times for asbestos workers who also smoke in comparison with the risk in the non-smoking general popula- tion. In comparison the risk for a non- smoking asbestos worker is only five times greater than the risk in the non-smoking general population. He is therefore at a much lower risk, although it is not complete- ° ly safe for the non-smoker to work in areas Turn to page 9