The Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-03-30, Page 2544,
eind
Executive., members -of the G oderieh .Branch of the Canadian Canter Society are, loft to
right, ZellaCrawford,,commemoration; Fordyce Clark, transportation arid Olive KnisleY,
service to patients: Absent for photo were Angus MacLennan, president, Robert McCall;
vice-president, Marj Brown, secretary, Eugene Bender, treasurer, Grace Hunter, planning,
development and nomination, Hazel McCreath, publicity and Phyllis Pitblado, mastectomy
visiting. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan)
The Pap Test:
It's simple yet important
The uterus, or womb, is a
small, pear-shaped organ
located in a woman's pelvis.
It has two parts; the uterus
itself, and the neck of the
uterus, or the cervix.
The test for changes in the
cervix or neck of the womb
which can tell if a pre-
cancerous or cancerous con-
dition exists is known as the
'Pap test' or the 'Pap
smear'. It is now part of the
standard gynecological ex-
am. This simple yet very im-
portant test is painless and
can be carried out in your
doctor's office in a matter of
minutes. If you are sexually
active or are over 18 years of
age, discuss with your doctor
how often you should have
the test, since this may vary
according to age and certain
other risk factors. However,
it should be done regularly.
HOW IS IT DONE?
Cells are gently taken
from the surface of the cer-
vix and placed on a glass
slide which is sent to a
laboratory. The cells are
then examined under a
microscope. In most women,
these cells are absolutely
normal. In a very few - about
6 out of every thousand - the
cells do not look normal.
When this occurs the test is
repeated and, if necessary,
further examinations made.
THEN WHAT?
Even if further investiga-
tion or treatment is re-
quired, the Pap test enables
doctors to discover cancer,
or pre -cancerous changes,
early so that the chances for
a complete cure are greatly
increased. If any abnormali-
ty is found, some additional
procedures may be done by
your doctor.
A very common diagnostic
procedure is a biopsy, where
a .smallpiece of tissue is
removed and examined
under a 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 treat-
ment. 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 ex-
amine the tissues of the cer-
vix and vagina.
If abnormal cells are
found, one simple treatment
is "cryotherapy," a pro-
cedure 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 fer-
tility or future child bearing.
Another simple treatment is
"laser cautery," where a
very fine, precise beam of
focused light vaporizes pre-
cancerous cellson the cervix
or vagina.
If
test
GOOD ADVICE
you are told that
is normal, you
your
will
naturally feel very happy.
Remember though that the
preservation of good health
requires that the test should
be repeated regularly. You
should also remain alert to
any unusual symptoms such
as spotting 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 successful in
detecting cervical cancer,
which is found in the neck of
the womb, it isn't as effec-
tive 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 en-
dometrium. Here, the repor-
ting of any abnormality and
regular gynecological ex-
ams will help in the early
detection and treatment.
HAS THE PAP
TEST HELPED?
The mortality rate from
cancer of the cervix was
generally on the increase un-
til the early 1950's. 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 the death rate
from cervical cancer. One of
.the most important reasons
is early treatment as a result
of the Pap test.
�S4 LIM 'ac
-tely,`central
parte of tumors often have
limited access to oxygen anti'
he Mess affected by
tion. Now beintstudied
are certain chemicals called
radiation sensitizers winch
are able to penetrate the
center of tumors and
substitute 'for oxygen, thus
increasing the effect of
radiation.
Concentrating radiation on
the tumor and sparing sur.
rounding normal cells is a
primary goal in radiation
therapy. A new facility at the
University of British Colum-
bia called TRIUM . , Tri -
University Meson Facility,
generates sub -atomic par-
ticles called, pi -mesons. Pi-
mesons can deposit energy
(radiation). deep inside the
body; striking' a tumor with
minimal damage to the nor-
mal cells surrounding it and
along the directed path of the
pi -mesons. This facility is
one of the only three in the
world. The preliminary
studies are nearly finished
and after further research, it
is expected that the ex-
perimental treatment of pa-
tients will begin.
Tumors may ' spread . to
other locations ""by cancer
cells breaking away from•
the main tumor and
migrating to other parts of
the body. Chemotherapy of-
fers one method for the
treatment of widely spread
cancer. Chemical com-
pounds are introduced into
the body and find their way
into most of the body tissues.
These drugs are chosen and
used in a manner planned to
be more destructive of
cancer cells than normal
cells. Canadian .scientists
contributed to the develop-
ment of a drug called .Viin-
caleukablastin (VLB) which
is one of the few drugs which
have been successfully used
to treat cancer. New drugs.
are constantly being
developed. Their method of
action and usefulness in
treatment of cancer are im-
portant parts of cancer
research.
The study of genes
In recent years, many
scientists have also been stu-
dying the genetic make-up of
cells in relation to cancer.
Endometrial cancer is curable
The middle years are the
time in a woman's life when
she becomes increasingly
vulnerable to cancer of the
endometrium, or en-
dometrial cancer. Briefly,
cancer is a disease in which
abnormal cells in some
organ or tissue grow out of
control and increase in
number. They replace or
destroy the normal tissues
around them and may
spread to distant organs. In'
endometrial-eancer„ the ab-
normal cells originate in the
endometrium or lining of the
womb.
Fortunately, endometrial
cancer is curable, if detected
early. There are two ways in
which you can protect
- yourself against this disease.
Learn to recognize the early
warning .signs your body
may give you and, most im-
portantly, insist on having
regular gynecologicalex-
aminations.
Sometimes, the signs of
endometrial cancer can be
confused with the effects of
menopause, the time when
menstruation normally
stops. Menopause usually oc-
curs -between the ages -of -40 -
and. 50. Periods may become
gradually shorter and fur-
ther apart or they may, stop
abruptly. There should be no
irregular bleeding between
periods. Once you have gone
for a full year without a
period, you will know that
menopause has occurred.
After that, there should
never again be any vaginal
bleeding. If you experience
irregular bleeding before or
during the menopause, or
any bleeding at all after the
menopause, it is a sign ,that
you.. should consult your
physician immediately.
There is a good chance that
this may be caused by
something- -other- _ -_than_
cancer, such as uterine
fibroids — benign growths in
the wall of the womb — but it
could be endometrial
cancer. In either case, early
treatment will benefit your
overall health and well-
being.
Of course, some women
develop endometrial cancer
without showing any symp-
toms at all. This is why
regular gynecological ex-
aminations are vital. If en-
dometrial cancer is
suspected, your doctor may
perform an aspiration curet=
tage. This is a painless pro-
cess which can be done in the
doctor's office. A suction
device is -used -to remove
sample .tissues from your.
womb for microscopic . ex-
'amination.
x-'amination. In some cases
your doctor may suggest
Turn to page 10 •
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i imam
Gen
felifer on
manipulated
meaes and sho
futpld .the
ure, result i n ,they pre '
tion: of sufficient 'ha/nark—ilk
terferon for detailed testing.
More general researches be-
ing performed to identify
genes andchar es in genes
which may result *cancer. •
Summa
Thus cancer search pro-
ceeds on a broad front —
epidemiology, the detection
of cancer related factorsin
the environment, and
laboratory research into
Menge of
ceroUrce
r seseearch
madaA aiecY the,
Ten? Fox arathon p Ho
bas added ai nen► dimension.
to cosotiogoarth by enabl
IN even more projectS,to be
funded. Tice volunteers aft*
Canadian Cancer Society;
the doctors who treat cancer
and the researchers from the
sciences of epidemiology;
physics, chemistry and
biology continue tg co-
operate in the march
towards solvhfg the pro -
blunt of cancer.
This information is brought to you with
the kind co-operation of the following:
GODERICH PURUC .
UTILITIES COMMISSION
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GARDINER
REAL ESTATE LIMITED
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