The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-03-29, Page 41Page 7
Some true facts about breast cancer
In U.S. women, breast
cancer occurs more often
(89,000 cases each year)
than any other form of
cancer. When breast
cancer is diagnosed early
and treated promptly, the
rate of cure can be as
high as 85 percent. And,
thanks to new diagnostic
methods and an alert
public and medical
profession, thousands of
women are returning to
their everyday lives after
breast cancer treatment.
Breast cancer is also
the chief cause of cancer
deaths among American
women - an estimated
33,600 in 1975. Breast
cancer can strike a
woman ' of any age.
However, it is more
frequently' found in the
over -35 age group.
Breast cancer cannot
be prevented,but the
number of lives saved is
increasing as more cases
are diagnosed early and
treated without delay.
Fortunately, breast
cancer is easy to find. In
fact, 95 percent of breast
lumps are discovered by
women themselves.
However, not all women
are finding breastcan-
cers early enough.
CANCER ITSELF
The' body is composed
of cells which grow and
divide. Normal cells grow
in an . orderly way,
creating healthy; useful
tissue. Cancer cells do not
grow in a regular pattern.
A lump formed by the
body's cells is called 'a
tumor. There are two
types of tumors - benign
and malignant. The
malignant tumor is
cancer.
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rn�
s
love
aff
lasts.
Most lumps in the
breast are benign, but
only a physician can
determine the exact
nature of a tumor.
Cancer invades ad-
jacent normal tissue. It
may also spread to other
parts of the body, starting
new growths known as
metastases.
It is therefore, im-
portant to diagnose
cancer before it spreads.
If the cancer is localized
in the breast, about 85
percent of the treated
patients show no
evidence of disease at the
end of five years.
Breast lumps, both
benign and malignant
can be found by touch: If
a woman discovers a
lump in her breast, she
should see a doctor right
away. The doctor may
decide to perform a
biopsy. This consists of
removing a specimen of
tissue and examining it
You can help prevent
lung cancer, skin
cancer and cervical
cancer.
Its up to
you.
under a microscope to see
if it is benign or
malignant.
Every woman should
also know about mam-
mography and ther-
mography, new
diagnostic' tools that may
detect breast cancer in an
extremely early stage,
the first by X ray, the
second by a heat pattern
image. Your physician or
your local ACW unit can
advise you about the
availability of these
techniques in your
community.
No matter how busy,
every woman should see
her physician annually
for a complete physical
checkup, including a
breast examination. And,
once a month, after her
menstrual period, or once
a month, after the
menopause, every
woman should do a breast
check.
Remember that a
breast lump does not
necessarily mean cancer.
A dimple in the skin,
nipple discharge, an
inverted nipple or
ulceration may be
significant but only a
physician can make a
final diagnosis and it is
important to see, him
quickly if a breast cange
Is discovered.
TREATMENT
Surgery and radiation
therapy are the primary
methods used to treat
breast cancer. • The
management of an in-
dividual patient is
determined by the
physician who is
responsible. Some
patients need only one
method while others may
require both.
Most women with
breast cancer are treated
by an operation called a
mastectomy (removal of
the breast, the muscles
There are many volunteers behind the scenes of the Huron Unit of the
Canadian Cancer Society including, John Dolbec of Clinton, left, Unit
Treasurer and Helen Davies, right, Unit president, who are shown chatting
with Unit secretary, Marg Maklns of Clinton. (News -Record photo)
Female cancers .
• from page 6
testines,- in that brder.
Each of these, if found
and treated early,
responds well.
The key to successful
treatment is to detect
cancer early and to do
this, there are certain
steps every woman
should take:
• If you are over 35,
visit your family doctor
for a physical
examination, as often as
he prescribes. .
• Repdrt promptly to
your doctor any unusual
bleeding, discharge,
swelling or discomfort of
any kind, or changes in
normal body functions.
• Cancer of the cervix
can now be detected by a
simple and painless test
called the Pap test while
it is still at a stage where
there is no cause for
alarm. Your doctor
. merely gathers a few
surface cells from the
cervix on a swab. When
looked at under the
microscope, suspicious
cells stand out clearly. An
early cancer colony can
be removed by a minor
operation before it has a
chance to spread. Even
should the cancer cells
have started to wander,
treatment in these early
stages almost .always
results in a cure.
• Learn how to
examine your breasts
every month.' Your doctor
will show you, or you m'ay
see a film on breast self-
examination which is
shown regularly by your
local unit of the Canadian
Cancer Society.
• Visit your doctor
after childbirth to make
sure there are no injuries
to the womb which need
repair.
• Lung cancer is
preventable. Practically
all cases occur in people
who are cigarette
smokers. Assure yourself
of better h 'alth and -set an
intelligent example for
your children by avoiding
this habit.
• Don't take home
remedies for indigestion
which occurs every day.
This symptom especially
after age 40, is important
••
underneath the breast
and the lymph' nodes in
the armpit.)
This operation is in-
tended to remove all
cancer -bearing tissue in
the local and is designed
to prevent recurrence, or
arrest spread of the
disease. The extent of the
surgery required is
determined by the
surgeon.
Hormones, chemicals
and operations which
remove the ovaries, or
adrenal glands or
pituitary glands are
sometimes helpful in
treating certain patients
with breast cancer.
Research contiS`ues to
explore additional
measures which may be
useful.
The American Cancer
Society offers a special
free service for women
who have had a
mastectomy. It is the
highly successful Reach
to Recovery Program.
Only at the -request of the
attending surgeon, a
trained, volunteer, who
herself has had a
mastectomy and
returned to normal life
successfully, visits the
patient in the hospital.
enough that you should
see your doctor.
• Remember that
bleeding from the rectum
may not be due to piles.
See your doctor.
• Avoid being taken in
by "miracle cures", trick
diets, or treatments in
far-off lands. Your own
doctor or your local
branch of the Canadian
Cancer Society will
provide you with in-
' formation, to help you
identify quack cures.
At the present time, the
proven ways to cure
cancer are, radiation,
which., includes x-rays,
radium and radioactive
substances and surgery
or a combination of
radiation and surgery.
Chemotherapy, or
treatment With drugs,
offers considerable hope
--for- the .future._
there is no knowndrug
that will cure all forms of
cancer. Even whin one is
found, it is probable that
early diagnosis and
treatment will remain as
important as they are
today.
The volunteer is "living
proof" of the ability to
resume normal life, aind
she will offer special
information on breast
forms and clothing as
well as answer the
patient's non-medical
questions. She will also
assist in the performance
of, those exercises ap-
proved byhe surgeon.
OTHER FACTS
The cause of breast
cancer in humans is not
known. Some women
recall an -injury to the
breast and suspect a
relationship to the
development of a breast
tumor.
However, it has never
been proved that an in-
jury is related to breast
cancer.Most often the
injury attracts a patient's
attention to a tumor
which was already there
and not recognized
before.
Daughters or sisters of
patients with .,breast
cancer have a somewhat
greater risk of developing
the disease. The risk of
developing breast cancer
is somewhat lower for
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