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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-03-30, Page 42wee is Daffodils symbol of hope Daffodils were sold again this year hi Huron County to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. hi total, people bought 54,000 blooms for the cause. Detection of colorectal cancer takes team -work — odds for recovery good Bob first realized something was wrong when he passed blood into the toilet. Then the constipation started. Fortunately, Bob overcame his fear and listen- ed to his commonsense: he went straight to the doctor. That's how he found out he had cancer of the rectum. And because he caught it early, Bob is alive and well today. WHAT IS COLORECTAL CANCER? "Colorectal" refers to the colon and the rectum. The colon, also called the large bowel, is the lower five to six, feet of intestine. The rectum is the last five to six inches at the end of the colon, leading to the outside of the body. Both the colon and the rec- tum take liquid from the re- mains of digested food and hold the solid waste until it is ready to be expelled from the body. That's what hap- pens when everything is in good working order. But when you develop cancer, previously normal cells in the colon or rectum begin to grow out of control and spread. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS? - Rectal bleeding - A change in your normal bowel habits_(persistent con- stipation, diarrhea, or both) - Persistent cramps - Unexplained weight loss or tiredness Of course, there may be several explanations for these problems and you shouldn't jump to the conclu- sion you have cancer, just because they occur. But you should check with the doctor RIGHT AWAY. Tell your doctor exactly what's wrong. WHY? Because detection of col- orectal cancer takes team- work, you'll do yourself a big favour if you help your doc- tor detect it at an early stage. Provided the tumour has not yet spread beyond the bowel itself, your odds for recovery are good. WHAT CAN I EXPECT AT THE DOCTOR'S? Your doctor may use any one of four procedures. The first is a digital examination, where the doctor examines your rectum carefully with his gloved finger. He will follow this by checking for occult (invisible) blood in the stool. Secondly, he may perform a proc- tosigmoidoscopy. (It's easier to do than to pro - nonce! ) ro- nouce!) Here the doctor in- serts a lighted tube into the rectum and lower 10 inches of the colon to get a look at this area where 80 percent of colorectal cancer occurs. Turn to page 11 • Endometrial cancer is curable... • from page 9 that you have a dilation and curettage (D and C). For this procedure you will be put under a general anaesthetic in hospital, so that a sample of tissue can be removed for examination. The well-known Pap test detects cancer of the cervix (the neck of the womb) but is not reliable in detecting en- dometrial cancer. WHO IS AT RISK? Some women are more likely to develop en- dometrial cancer than others. Research shows that the highest incidence is among women who: • have had difficulty becom- ing pregnant • have never borne children • have been prescribed estrogen therapy con- tinuouslyfor long periods • have had periods that fluc- tuated between being too heavy and too light • are overweight • suffer from high blood pressure • are diabetic THE TREATMENT The most common treat- ment for endometrial cancer is surgery, usually a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the womb. Often the ovaries need not be removed. Radiotherapy is another method that physicians are using successfully. Here, high energy radiation is beamed accurately on the problem area in the womb in such a way that minimal damage is caused to sur- rounding tissues. A third method is chemotherapy, a course of anti-cancer drugs and hor- mones. This treatment may be given in a doctor's office or at the outpatients'depart went of hospital:_.. . Both radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be used in conjunction with a hysterectomy. Should this course be recommended to you, don't jump to the con- clusion that your physician considers your cancer at an advanced stage. Your doctor carefully weighs the options to determine the best course of treatment for you. Whichever route your doctor advises, be assured that the cure rate for endometrial cancer is very high — especially if caught early. It's up to you to take good care of yourself. Insist on regular gynecological ex- aminations. Discuss with your doctor how often these should be. In the meantime, report any abnormal bleeding to your doctor im- mediately. X-ray treatment increases chances of thyroid cancer If you received x-ray treat- ment — not just an x-ray car- ried out to assist with the diagnosis of some medical condition — to your head or neckarea as a child or young adult you are at increased risk of developing cancer of the thyroid gland. What is the thyroid gland? It is one of your endocrine glands and is situated in the front of your neck below and on either side of your Adam's apple or voice box. It governs your metabolism and contributes to normal growth and development. Enlargement of the thyroid is commonly called a goitre. What is cancer of the thyroid gland? Cancer is a disease in which uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells occurs in some organ or tissue, usual- ly forming a lump which is called a tumor. Normal cells reproduce themselves in an orderly manner. That's how growth' occurs in children and worn out tissues are replaced in adults. However, when cells grow in an uncontrolled way, they can form a mass of lump which is called a tumor. A tumor is called a malignant tumor, or cancer when it not only enlarges but can spread into and destroy normal tissue next to it and if it also has the ability to shed cells which can travel and grow in distant parts of the body as a secondary tumor. Secondary tumors are also called "metastases Cancer of the thyroid oc- curs in the thyroid gland. There are a numberof_dif- ferent kinds of thyroid cancer which, among other things, differ in how rapidly they grow and spread. For- tunately the kind of thyroid cancer that may result from exposure to x-ray treatment of the head and neck as a child is normally slow grow- ing and tends to spread only after it has been present for some time. Therefore, early detection and effective treat- ment usually result in cure. How was the relationship between treatment with x-ray and cancer of the thyroid discovered? In the 1920s it was noted that x-ray treatment of some conditions appeared to be very beneficial when judged by the short term effects. As a result, for many years such treatment was judged to be good medical practice. In children x-ray treatment was frequently used for: -acne, -ringworm of the scalp, -some types of birthmarks, -enlargement of the thymus gland, and -enlargement of lymphoid tissue (glands) in the throat area.. (including the tonsils and adenoids) . Around 30 years later, it was recognized that thyroid.. cancer was increasing in fre- quency in relatively young and middle aged individuals. Studies were able to trace this increase to x-ray treat- ment of the head and neck area in childhood. Remarkably, similar ex- posure to x-ray treatment as an adult does not lead to thyroid cancer. Such treatment is no longer used in children. But, if you received x-ray treat- ment to the head and neck area as a child, you are at in- creased risk. What should you do if you are at increased risk? -If there is any possibility that you received this type of x-ray treatment as a child, you should see your doctor without delay. Your doctor is aware of the risk and will make sure that you receive prompt diagnosis and effec- tive treatment. -If you see or feel a lump in the region of your thyroid you should see your immediately, even jasti have never received x-ray therapy. Most thyroid masses are not cancer, but don't take a chance. What examination is your doctor likely to perform? Your doctor will simply feel the outside of your neck while you are swallowing for any evidence of a mass or swelling. You will feel no discomfort. If there is no mass, this is likely all that will be done, althoughyou will probably be asked to return for similar follow-up examinations. However, sometimes as an extra safeguard, or if some abnor- mality is found, additional laboratory studies may be recommended. Or you may be advised to have an opera- tion, so that the abnormal area can be removed. Think about it. If you received x-ray therapy to your head and neck area as a child, seeing your doctor promptly may be the most important decision you have ever made. , This information is brought to you with the kind co-operation of the following: STILES FUNERAL HOME 77 MONTREAL ST. GODERICH GODERICH ELECTRIC 189 South Si., Godorlch 324-9512 ART'S LANDSCAPING NURSERY & GARDEN CENTRE 116 BENNETT ST. GODERICH PHONE 524-2645 RIECK PHARMACY 14 THE SQUARE GODERICH S24-7341 BLUEWATER TRUCK CENTRE LTD. AIRPORT ROAD, GODERICH 524-7379 HiII & Borgal Architects & Planners 58 Elgin Avenue East Goderich Ontario N7A 1 K2 telephone (519) 524-6546