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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-03-26, Page 48• Wingham volunteers active in the Wingham Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society are, left to right, George Michie, treasurer and commemoration chairman; Doris McCall, rural campaign chairman; and Barry Reid, president. Absent for photo were: Don Kennedy, past president; Jack Gillespie, vice-president; Margaret Mann, secretary; Jim McCarthy, urban campaign chairman and Bill Keil, urban campaign vice-chairman; Carol Hamilton, education; Dr. W. Wong, medical advisor; Mary McLaughlin and Margaret Mundell, patient services; Norm Welwood, PD&N; Bill Matisz, publicity and Mr. and Mrs. L. Montgomery, transportation. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) Cancer facts for men.. • from page 16. urinating. Your urine may dribble instead of flowing freely, or it may contain blood. Another sign of cancer of the prostate may be pain during ejaculation. What You Can Do: Your doctor should give you a digital examination during your periodic health examination. For men over 60, this is most important, especially as you could be developing a growth in the prostate without any symptoms showing. But it can be detected by your doctor's examination. TERUCIRAFteLNCE114 Contrary to popular belief, contracting cancer of the testicles does not mean you will lose your "manhood". The first sign could be a hard lump on a testicle. Other in- dications may be a heavy feeling in a testi- cle, or a sudden filling of the scrotum with fluid or blood. What You Can Do: Examine yourself regularly by gently rolling your testicle between your thumb and fingers. Check for any thickening or lump, however small. A physical check is necessary, because often the lump that develops on the testicle is painless. Don't delay seeing your doctor. If an operation is required, remember, you can have a perfectly healthy and reproduc- tive sexual relationship, with one testicle. SKIN CANCER: This is the most common of all cancers. In Canada about 16,590 new cases are detected each year; most of these men and women are cured. There are three types of skin cancer: basal cell, squamous cell, and the rarer (around 5 percent of the total) melanoma. Basal and squamous cell cancers generally show up either as a pale, wax -like, pearly nodule that may eventually grow larger and crust. Sometimes, these two cancers appear as a red, scaly, sharply outlined patch. Melanoma, on the other hand, often begins as a mole -like growth, which may become itchy. Usually, the mole is dark brown, but may be mixed with areas of white, pink, blue or grey. It may change shape, grow larger or even change color. If you see any of these signs, see your doctor as soon as possible. What You Can Do: Skin cancer is most often caused by over-exposure to the sun. Those whose jobs are outdoors such as con- struction, fishing, and agricultural work should keep as much of their body covered as possible and wear a wide -brimmed hat. Fair -skinned people are the most vulnerable to this cancer and should take particular_ care. Those who can't avoid the sun : or just like to sunbathe - should ask their doctors or pharmacists to advise them on the best pro- tective screen against the sun's rays. SOME GOOD ADVICE: There's nothing sissy about seeing your doctor for a regular „examination. You'll, know you're in prime condition if your doc- tor give you a blean bill of health. In many cases, your doctor can discover a potential cancer long before you even begin to ex- perience any symptoms. With early treat- ment, your chances of faster. recovery are much better. TREATING CANCER: • Today, there are several options: surgery, chemotherapy (the use of anti- cancer drugs), radiotherapy (the cancer cells are bombarded with rays that kill them causing minimal harm to surrounding areas) or a combination. Both chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be us- ed without you being, hospitalized. It is im- possible to generalize on which course of ac- tion your doctor will advise; he or she will make decisions based on what will give you personally, the best possible chance of recovery. There are no miracle cures' yet. But thanks to people like Terry Fox and others, millions of dollars are being spent on research, to find better ways to beat the disease. HOPE Page 17 4. Ontario Foundation.... • from page 16. Other landmark research supported by the Foundation in Ontario *Wed the use of mouse models at the On,tario Cance_ In- stitute to develop an understanding of nor- mal bone -marrow cells: that researchset the stage for a greater understanding of the human blood system and led, eventually, to bone -marrow `transplantation and suc- cessful uo-cessful management of certain forms of leukemia. At the London Clinic, research led to the growing of cancer cells in a spheroid form - a procedure which formed the basis of a model now used throughout the world to study the growth of cancer cells. At the Hamilton Clinic, research teanis found out how to use electrons to treat mycosis fungoides - a bizarre form of cancer that ap- pears widely on the surface of the body. As the Foundation entered its 41st year, researchers within its organization were us- ing CT scanners to refine diagnosis, to outline tumors and to measure the depth of radiation dosage throughout the body. They were probing .the use of ultrasound as a tool to diagnose cancer of the breast without risk to the patient. As they had been doing for four decades, they continued to explore new ways of fighting cancer. The first , decade of the Foundation's history was one of rapid growth. In May 1948, a regional treatment centre was open- ed at the General Hospital of Port Arthur to serve Northwestern Ontario. The Ontario Cancer Foundation Thunder Bay Clinic would save patients trips of up to 24 hours on trains to reach treatment in the south. In 1949, the Foundation assumed complete responsibility for the administration and financing of the treatment centre in Hamilton General Hospital and prepared to move the Ontario Cancer Foundation Hamilton Clinic into quarters in the new wing of the hospital. Early in November 1951, the first com- mercial cobalt -60 beam therapy unit (the "cobalt bomb") in the world was installed in the London Clinic of the Ontario Cancer ow ion iciorta-hiospi-tal 5Yhe-firat patient ever to receive this new form of radioactivity was treated at the London unit and became the first of many thousands of cancer patients to be helped by 'this power- ful tool. In 1952, the tumor clinic at the Ottawa Civic Hospital was moved to a new wing of the hospital and became another Ontario Cancer Foundation Clinic. In 1954, London Clinic was moved to a new wing of Victoria Hospital. On June 1 of the same year, the Windsor Clinic joined the network of regional treatment centres and, later that year, a rotational cobalt -beam therapy unit, the first of that type in the na- tion, went into operation in the. Windsor Clinic. The first decade ofthe Foundation was not without its trials and, on occaison, tragedy. In January 1949, Dr. Gordon Richards, the Foundation's first chief, died of leukemia related to his long exposure to radiation in his practice. Little was known then about modern techniques of radiation protection. An important event in the life of the nation took place in 1949, when the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) was incor- porated to support research throughout the country. The NCIC took under its wings some of the research projects the Founda- tion had been funding and since then financ- ed fundamental work in cancer research in co-operation with the Ontario Cancer Foun- dation. The Ontario Cancer Foundation had taken on the tasks of providing cancer drugs for the needy, of underwriting transportation for the needy, of supporting certain diagnostic testing and of administering treatment using radiation and chemotherapy. On April 18, 1956, the Foun- dation also .assumed the duty of providing temporary housing for patients who had to travel some distance for treatment. On that day, the Foundation opened its first hostel in a house about a block from the Ontario Cancer Foundation Hamilton Clinic. Here, patients who did not need nursing care could live while receiving treatment at the hospital-based clinic. By saving both hospital space and travel, these hostels, now spread across the province at various cen- tres, have proven highly cost effective. The development of these hostels would not have been possible without the help of the Cana- dian Cancer Society Ontario Division. The Foundation agreed to pay the operating costs of these hostels while the Society would buy, renovate and furnish the hostels and would occupy those parts of the hostel not used as living quarters for pa- tients. PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL Before 1958, cancer research in Toronto was carried out at several hospitals and at the University of Toronto under the control ' of those institutions but funded, in part, by grants from the Foundation. In 1958, construction the Ontario Cancer a Institute on Sherbourne Street was com- pleted. Treatment had already begun at this building on an outpatient basis in 1957 and the first patient was admitted to a hospital bed there in May 1958. The Institute is an. autonomous organization which contains a wide range of radiotherapeutic and other • equipment. It had 87 beds for cancer pa- tients and two floors for research. In addition, the Institute had its own hospital. During her visit to Canada in the 'summer of 4958, Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret agreed that the new facility should bear her name and it became the Princess Margaret off spitaL In .October, Premier Leslie Frost opened an annex to the Princess Margaret Hospital, which would become a hostel for am- • bulatory'patients. This hostel, now known as the Princess Margaret Hospital Lodge, was planned by a joint committee of the Society and the Foundation, but built by the Ontario Division of the Canadian Cancer Society. One of the services provided here was a voice rehabilitation centre, sponsored by the Foundation and staffed by the clinical departments of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Toronto. A teacher in • - structed patients, who had lost their voice boxes to cancer, to communicate using esophageal speech. This course was the first of the many rehabilitation services to be in- stalled in the hostel. As of 1960, the Foundation was operating its six regional treatment centres and was funding 12 follow-up and consultative clinics in Ontario. The network of treatment and diagnostic centres in Ontario in 1960 represented a great advance from the unorganized collection of cancer treatment facilities, which e had existed only two decades before. Also research activities had undergone an unprecedented transformation during the year since the Foundation had been established. In addition, the social services of the pro - Turn to page 20 • This information is brought to you with the kind co-operationof the following: SHUR GAIN T. B. ALLEN LTD. Londesboro, Ont. Feed and Fertilizer Call 523=9606 or 1-800-265-7095 ' WINGHAM FEED MILL, Wingham, Ont. Call 357-3060 BANK OF MONTREAL Jayne Elliott, Manager 55 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario NOG 2WO (519)357-1750/3 BRUCE MAC,HAN Plumbing & Heating Phone' 357-2370 13 Alfred St. E., Wingham, Ontarib. BROOKHAVEN NURSING HOME Phone 357-3430 Accredited Home Wingham i SUNRISE DAIRY WINGHAM, 289 Josephine St. Phone 357-1260 W. E. Walden Transport Ltd. R.R. 2 Wingham Phone 357-2050