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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-03-30, Page 17;It f.11 g Yz' x' a744.r rt Supplement to the G,oderlch Signal -Star, Clinton Flews -Record, Huron Expositor, Exeter Times Advcicate and Wingham Advance -Times Wednesday, March 30, 1988 Besttherapy is positive attitude Cancer won't run Casey's life BY MARGARET ARBUCKLE Lloyd "Casey" Casemore of Wingham won't let cancer run hialife and he believes a positive attitude is the best kind of therapy. Ever since his cancer was diagnosed over two years ago, Casey . has refused to slow down_ his whirlwind pace. For example, the month of March was. crammed full of Lodge and Lions meetings and curling. In fact, he admitted it would be virtually impossible for him to attend all the meetings'each month that he is supposed to. Today, Casey says he feels better than he has in a long time, certainly better, than two years•ago; when he,.was suffering . from .stomach: J . 010A id, 'hoots, t, i f sweating. - Those- symptoms- went on for six months and Casey continued to feel worse and worse. Atter the . local hospital staff could not determine Hs problem, he was referred to the specialists at University Hospital, London. The London doctors conducted a series of tests, as well as exploratory surgery. After extensive testing, they found himto have lymphoma, a type of cancer which attacks the body's lymph glands., These glands • are 'responsible for the elimination of waste by- products from body organs. When the lymph glands are not working properly, those waste products; cannot get away. Therefore, the build- up of poisons in his liver caused the stomach pain and the sweating was caused by excess fluid in his lungs. His first reaction to the news was: Why me? He was frightened, understandably, but after the initial shock, decided to accept the doc- tors' verdict and co-operate with them. The first step, after clearing up an infection Casey had developed, was to start him on chemotherapy treatments. Most people find these treatments extremely unpleasant with side effects like hair loss, vomiting and diarrhea. But Casey had no choice,because without the treatments, his doctors gave him 'six months to five years to live. With his usual deter- mination and .good humor, Casey started chemotherapy. The doctors kept close tabs on him to chart his progress on the drug and were amazed at what they found. Casey had no adverse reactions whatsover to chemdtherapy! He •attributes this to his '.9, i:.t 9,,1}iYAtY s.e�P�f?-tSAt},ES>• iF j?4.ebei di .i;s,pottito someday, Beaten Here in Huron County,; the thPfirgli4Min0 objective for 1983 has been set at $77i0 This Islip from 'last year's objective cif 871,000 :Huron • County Unit. treasurer Steve Biskup>gves the break down for each branch in• the county as. follows:' Goderich-$20,500; Exeter $19,000; Wingbam- $16,500;. Clinton -$14,500;. and Seaforth-$6,500. This money is raised in various ways, the main one being a door-to-door canvass conducted by volunteers in each braneh across the county during the month of April • Daffodils have also become synonymous with fund-raising for cancer. At the end of 'March, 54,000 blooms were sold by 'volunteers across the county (17,000 in Goderich, 15,000 in Clinton, 12,000 in Exeter, 6,000 in Wingham and 4,000 in Seaforth). These blooms were sold inbunches of ten for $3 or two bunches for $5. Daffodil teas were held in Wingham (March 25) and Clinton (March 29). arch: �C9 yes,, nter Can, Be Casey Casemore of Wingham refuses to let cancer rule his life. Eversince his cancer was diagnosed over two years ago, Casey has Never let up his hectic pace. In addition to regular club activities and curling at home, Casey has been to Europe, three times in the past two years and intends to leave again this month for a seven -week stay. Pictured with Casey is an honorary plaque he received for bravery during the Second World War. (Wingham Advance -Times Photo) ' own physiology. partly and partly to his determination not to let anything stand in his way. The doctors at University Hospital were amazed and overjoyed with Casey's progress and he has become a symbol to them and others that some of the hard work and research into cancer has paid off. Casey added they always are happy to see him again for check-ups. Many people who are 'ill, are afraid to leave their doctor or hospital, just in case they take a turn for the worse, but not Casey. After his first round of treatments was complete, he decided to take ,a trip to Europe to visit friends he met when he was a soldier in the Second World War. His doctors encouraged him to make the trip, saying that travel can be very therapeutic. So, he went alid has returned to Europe c,:: two other occasions since, ,staying a little bit longer each time. In fact, he leaves again for Europe this month for an unprecedented seven - week stay. Casey never hides his light under a basket; he lets .it shine. In doing so, he has made life a little brighter for several other local cancer sufferers, with visits and pep 'talks. One woman said her husband always was buoyed up with new determination after a visit from Casey. His philosophy of life is: Live one day at a time and enjoy each day. Breast self-examination: For more information on cancer and.. breast self- examination, attend one of the following presentations: Tuesday, April 12, with Dr. Englert, Room 120, South Huron District High School, Exeter, 7:30 p.m.; Wed- nesday, April 13, with Dr. Thomson, Assessment Office, 46 Gloucester Terrace, Goderich; 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, April19, with Dr. McKim, Portable, Wingham and District Hospital, Wingham, 7:30 p.m. Treasurer Steve Biskup Goderich's annual daffodil tea 'will be held. April 2. from 2.4.30 p.m in, St. George's Anglican Cliliccli"" hall:: each of these teas, • -a collection plate, at the door yields funds for cancer research. The other major fund- raiser for the Huron County Unit is a bike-a-thon. This year's date has been -set for Sunday, May 1st across all the branches. Please watch your local papers for further ._ details about these bike-a- thons. ca+es of deafly -few; of uawill -go. through life, without having cancer cross our paths in some way. Read on for a better understanding of this disease. • Cancer startswhen the growth pattern of one or more cells becomes unregulated kid un- controlled. As these cells multiply, , they give rise "to billions of abnormal cells, which may clump together to form a swelling or lump. 'These cells continue to multiply beyond . the replacement needs of the body and are no longer able to perform their usual. function. Eventually, asthey continue to— grow- and ---- multiply, they can crowd out and interfere with the fun- ction of normal cells and organs. If clumps of cancer cells separate from the first tumour, they may travel through the lymph canals and blood vessels thereby spreading the , cancer, throughout the body. These. secondary cancer growths are known as "metastases", from the Greek word meaning "stopping in a later place". For successful cancer treatment, it is very important to discover and remove the cancer growth before this spread can take place: For this reason, early detectionof a cancer growth is critical for successful treatment. It is estimated that ap- proximately 80 per cent of all cancers are- preventable. This fact ^su`ggests that serious consideration should be given to the following positive actions for better health! Stop smoking! Death rates from lung cancer are significantly higher in smoxe d reit proportion to the lumber of cigarettes smoked. Smoking also jeopardizes the health of non-smokers who 'are ex- posed xposed to • the chemicals in cigarette smoke through passive inhalation. Women should have regular pap smears and do regular breast self- examinations! Breast cancer and cancer of' the cervix are- the most prevalent types ofcancer experienced by women. If it were possible to convince .every sexually, active woman aged 18 to 60 that she should have a "pap smear" regularly, • cancer of the cervix could be largely eliminated. As well, early detection of abnormal lumps in the breast through breast self-examination is critical if treatment Is to be suc- cessful! Protect your skin from over-exposure to the itcaviolet rays of the sun! Skin cancer can be prevented by restricting direct exposure over long periods of time to, the sun. Use a sun screen to protect your skin. Industrial work places should ensure an . en- vironment that is free from cancer-causing chemical agents. A few of the well- known ones are asbestos, arsenic, vinyl chloride, benzidine and various metallic. ores. Check your work site for the presence of any of these chemicals. . Cancer is not inevitable or fatal In all cases! . By practising positive health habits, you may help prevent cancer. (Adapted "from pamphlets from the Canadian Cancer Society by Health Education Services, Huron County Health Unit. ).