University of South Carolina Libraries
About Your Health Page? Facts About Cancer Women Need to Know Breast Cancer Breast cancer is one of the leading cancer killers among women in this country with 38,400 deaths each year. The number of new cases is approximately 119,000. However, through early detection and prompt treatment, about 87 percent of breast cancer patients could be saved. About one out of 11 women will develop breast cancer at some time during their lives. That's why a monthly breast self- examination should be a lifelong habit from teenage years on, even though this disease occurs most often in women over 50. If you're age 50 and over, you should have a breast X ray (mammogram) every year; be tween ages 35-39, have a baseline breast X ray; from ages 40 to 49, you should have this X ray every one to two years depending on your physician’s judgment. It is also impor tant to have a physician examine your breasts every three years from ages 20 to 40, and every year after 40. You could be at risk for breast cancer if you have a personal or family history of this cancer, have never had children or had your first child after age 30. At any time, if you find a lump, nipple discharge, or other changes in your breasts, see your physician without delay. Lung Cancer Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer of American women with about 38,600 deaths each year. Yet nearly half of these deaths could be prevented if women did not smoke. Cigarette smoking is the largest single, preventable cause of death and disability in this country. Smoking accounts for nearly 75% percent of lung cancers among women in this coun try, and for about 10 percent of all cancer in women. Women who smoke one or more packs of cigarettes a day have a risk of dying from this cancer almost five times as great as a nonsmoker's. Since the chest X ray as a routine screening procedure, and other tests do not detect lung cancer early enough, pre vention is the best step to take. Don’t smoke. No cigarette is “safe," though switching to low tar and nicotine cigarettes may help if you can’t quit yet — provided you don't smoke more of them. Quitting completely lowers your risk, over time, almost to that of nonsmokers as long as no irreversible disease is already present. Uterine Cancer Uterine cancer is fourth in the number of new cases (52,000) but deaths (under 10,000) have dropped sharply over the years, mostly because of the Pap test, which ■ helps detect cancer of the uterine cervix early. The five-year relative survival rate is over 85 percent with early detection. Every woman should have a Pap test at least once every three years, after two initial negative tests one year apart, from age 20 on (earlier if sexually active). Also from 20 years on, women should have a pelvic exam every three years, and yearly after age 40. Endometrial cancer, in the lining of body of the uterus, occurs mainly in women over 40. You could be at risk forthis cancer if you are obese, take hormones, or have abnormal bleeding, infertility or failure of ovulation. If you have reached menopause and are at risk, your physician should examine an endomet rial tissue sample. Any abnormal uterine bleeding should al ways be reported promptly to your physician. Colon and Rectum Cancer Colorectal cancer is the third major cancer in annual deaths (30,900) and second in new cases (72,000). It occurs slightly more often in women than men and mostly in women over age 50. Three out of four of these cancer patients could be saved with early detection. Three Your Health Your health is your business ... and no body can take care of your business but you. You’ve worked long and hard to make a bet ter life for yourself and your family. Don’t throw it away because taking care of your health is too much trouble. Taking care of your body means that you should have regular checkups. They should include exams to be sure you don’t have cancer. Cancer is a great threat to men of all ages and the older you get the more chance you have of getting it. Men in particular have to worry about certain types of cancer. The most common types of cancer that strike men are cancer of the lungs, cancer of the colon and rectum and cancer of the prostate gland. Cancer can be treated and cured ... but only if it is found early enough ... and only a doctor can do that. So if you haven’t had a health checkup in the last year, you're play- During the coming months, Clinton Mills will make available many types of useful health related data designed to increase ev ery employee’s awareness of the importance of “staying well." Many South Carolina service organiza tions have offered health related literature to the company for employees to use. The material provided will offer emolovees tips on staying well as well as early warning sig- effective early detection tests are: (1) the digital rectal exam, which should be part of your yearly health checkup after age 40; (2) the stool blood test every year after age 50; (3) the procto, after age 50, every three to five years following two negative tests one year apart. Only your physician can assess your risk level and whether you need to have any of these tests earlier or more often. Risks in clude personal or family history of colon and rectum cancer, personal or family history of polyps in the colon or rectum and ulcerative colitis. Symptoms such as bleeding from the rectum, blood in the stool, persistent change in bowel habits, or cramping abdo- ing a dangerous game. A game you can’t really afford to lose. Don’t gamble with your life. Follow these few simple steps. They just may save your life. Have a health checkup regularly. Ask the doctor to check you for those types of cancer that strike men, especially cancer of the rectum and prostate. The doctor, after ex amining the chest area with a stethoscope, may advise a chest X ray. Know cancer's warning signals: (1) Change in bowel or bladder habits. (2) A sore that does not heal. (3) Unusual bleeding or discharge. (4) Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere. (5) Indigestion or diffi culty in swallowing. (6) Obvious change in wart or mole. (7) Nagging cough or hoarse ness. Now none of these signals mean that you have cancer. You probably don’t. But if you nals for many common illnesses and health related problems. In cooperation with Upper Savannah River Health Districts Education Coordina tor Sandra Sparks, Clinton’s employees will benefit from Clothmaker articles, bulletin boards, posters and pamphlets on subjects such as safety belt usage and cancer con trol, (April); diabetes, (May), nutrition, (June); drinking and driving, (July); and minal pain should be reported to your physi cian without delay. Skin Cancer Most skin cancers are highly curable. They are more common among women with lightly pigmented skin. Melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, strikes about 11,000 women each year and causes about 2,300 deaths. If you notice any unusual skin condition, especia I ly a cha nge i n a mole or other growth or spot, see your physician without delay. Use sense in the sun. Avoid overexposure by wearing protective clothing or sunscreen preparations. have a signal, it does mean that maybe something is wrong and that you need to see a doctor. Remember that cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer and can cause other diseases. Folks who don’t smoke are healthier, feel better and better yet, live lon ger. Even if you’ve been a heavy smoker for years, chances are it's not too late to stop. Another thing is that if you smoke, your children are most likely to follow your ex ample. Remember! Serious conditions can’t be cured with home remedies. There just aren't any secret cures for cancer. Only a doctor can treat and cure cancer. You can’t wish away cancer, it won’t just disappear. If you have any of the warning signals, then every day you put off seeing a doctor, you're lower ing your chances of being cured if you do have cancer. Presented smokeless tobacco, (August). Other scheduled subjects are hyperten sion, (Sept.); drugs and alcohol, (Oct.); emphysema, (Nov.); holiday safety, (Dec.); exercise, (Jan.); and cholesterol, (Feb.). While some of the subjects may apply to some individuals more than others, the total package of health subjects is designed for the majority of employees. If a subject doesn't apply to a particular employee, this material along with others, should be passed along to other family mem bers or a friend. “We’re trying to reach as many em ployees, their dependents, family members, and others as possible," stated Mack Par sons who is coordinating the program. “It would be very difficult to develop a program to apply strictly to a specific group. That's why we’re encouraging everyone to read and understand the materials they re ceived and then pass it along to others," he added. The plant nurses are available to counsel employees on any particular health problem for which there may be concern. Bailey Plant Renovations. (Continued from page 1) ping. “This project allows the Bailey Plant to increase the number of different fabrics being manufactured, having the versatility of processing two separate blends,” noted Vice President of Manufacturing J. R. Swetenburg. “Our weaving flexibility and our ability to produce a wider range of yarn counts enables us to respond more rapidly to the changes in marketing requirements,” he added. “We are very pleased with the interest and enthusiasm the Bailey Plant employees have shown during the modernization project. As we move toward a continuous operating schedule with the latest manufacturing equipment, I’m confident the Bailey Plant will be able to serve additional markets and provide steady employment for the people of Laurens County and of the surrounding area who are, and will be Bailey employees.” Articles on Health to Be Is Your Business