The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-03-29, Page 40Page 6
This informative publication is brought to you
with the kind co-operation of the following
For women only
Female cancers are found easily
WORSELL BROS.
PLUMBING & HEATING EXPERTS
THE SQUARE
GODERICH
524-7952
Alexander & Chapman
Insurance &"Real Estate
8 THE SQUARE
GODERICH 524-9662
MR. STEREO
40 WHIST.
GODERICH
524-9344
ARTS LANDSCAPING
NURSERY & GARDEN CENTRE
116 BENNET ST.
GODERICH
PHONE
524 9126
None of us will go
through life without
having cancer cross our
paths, even if we are
lucky enough to avoid a
personal collision with it.
As with other hazards of
life, however, a mature
and rational attitude will
eliminate needless worry
and fear.
The most serious
problem about cancer is
the fear that the very
word arouses. Fear and
ignorance go hand in
hand.
Learn about the disease
- first of all, that your
chances of being a cancer
victim are really not that
great: Then learn how
certain forms may be
prevented, how detection
in time will lead to per-
manent cure in many
cases, and how research
is continually improving
our knowledge of the
disease; its- prevention,
detection and treatment.
Statistics tell us that
four out of five Canadian
women will not die of
cancer. You can increase
your chances of
remaining in this for-
tunate group by knowing
the protection available
to you. The increasing
knowledge about cancer
has 'already had im-
portant results for
Canadian women. For
example, the death rate
in Canada for cancer of
the uterus has dropped 35
percent in the past 20
years.
As our population in-
creases and people live
longer, the chances of
knowing more than one
person in a family who
has had cancer become
greater. There is no
evidence, however; that
cancer can result from
having close contact with
someone who has it, nor
is there any evidence in
humans that cancer is
hereditary.
Studies show that
cancer in women occurs
most frequently in parts
of the body easily
examined by a doctor.
The most common site is
the breast, followed by
uterus, skin and in -
Turn to page 7 •
The Pap testis easy, safe, sure
Cancer is often a
curable disease - 1,500,000
living Americans who
have been cured of
cancer are .eloquent
testimony to this fact -
and cancer of the uterus
or womb is potentially
one of the most curble.
forms of cancer, Yet, this
year about 11,000
American women will die
of cancer of the uterus.
Why?
To answer this
question, we must first
examine the nature'of the
disease.
Uterine cancer, like
other types of cancer., is
made up of abnormal
cells which multiply. The
cells grow to form a uterus begin,in the lower by less urgent conditions
tumor which invades part of the womb called 'such asinfection - are the
surrounding normal The cervix, or neck. Some
tissue - eventually arise in the corpus, or
destroying the organ in body of the uterus, which
which it originated. is the upper part.
If the disease is un- If uterine cancer is
checked, cells from the..._-.-allowed.'to devre.lop, the
tumor are carried
through the body's two
general circulatory
systems - the lymph and
blood systems -. to other
areas of the body.
There they set up new
destructive growths. This
process is called
metastasis, and a cancer
'that has spread in this
manner is said to have
metastasized.
Most canceirs, of the
Sit or stand in front of your
mirror. with your arms relaxed at
your sides. and examine your
breasts carefully for any changes
in size and shape Look for any
puckering or dimpling of the
skin. and for any discharge or
change in the nipples
Raise both your arms over your
head. and look for,exactly the
same things, See if there's been
any change since you last
examined your breasts
Lie on your bed, put a pillow or.,
a bath towel under your left
shoulder and your left hand
under your head. (From this
Step through Step 8, you should
feel for a lump or thickening.)
With. the fingers of your right
hand held together flat, press
.gently but firmly with small,
circular motions to feel the inner,
upper quarter of your left breast.
starting at your breast -bone and
going outward toward the nipple
line. Also feel the area around
the nipple
With the same gentle pressure.
feel the'lower inner part of your
breast-.lneddentally; i -n- h4c.area--.. —
you will feel a ridge of firm tissue
or flesh Don't be alarmed This
is perfectly normal
cancer cells may spread
directly to the vagina,
bladder and rectum. Or
they may spread through
the lymphatic system to
lyrrip,h nodes within the
pelvis, or through the
bloodstream to distant
organs such as the lungs.
The- symptoms of
cancer of the womb •are
unusual bleeding or
discharge. But these -
which may also be caused
Nov, bring your left arm down to
your side, and still using the flat
part of your fingers. feel under
your armpit.
Use the same gentle pressure to
feel the upper. outer quarter
of your breast from the
nipple line to where your
arm is resting. -
And finally, feel the lower outer
section of your breast, going'
from the outer part to the nipple.
signs of established
cancers: Fortunately,
science now has a test
which can -find uterine
cancers before symptoms
occur..
Cancer of the uterus is
now fourth in rank among
cancer killers . of
American women (the
first three are cancer .of
the breast, cancer of the
colon and rectum and
lung cancer.) -
Yet' most deaths from
uterine cancer should be
eliminatd by
widespread 'use. of a,
simple, painless, inex-
Turn to page 12 •
Repeat the. entire procedt4e on
the right breast •
Your own doctor may want you
to use -a slightly different method
of examination Ask him to teachT
you that method Examine your i '
breasts every month, just after
your period Be sure to continue
these checkups after your
change of life If you find a lump
or thickening leave it alone until
you see your doctor Don't be
frightened Most breast lumps or
changes are not cancer. but only
your doctor can tell