Herald A Lantern 17 August '83

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Liver cancer is an example of how essential early detection is in attempting to prolong life. The liver is a frequent site of cancer because of its role as a filter for blood from all parts of the body. Liver cancer often signals that the original site of cancer is somewhere else in the body. To prolong life, it becomes important to locate the main tumor, as well as the sites to which the cancer may have spread. There are cancers limited specifically to the liver; these are known as "hepatomas or cholangiocarcinomas". When cancer has spread to the liver from

another site we call this a “metastasis”. Rapid detection cannot be over emphasized because the chances of surviving liver cancer are very slim. In most cases treatment will serve to slow the course of the disease, with temporary remissions adding months or years to life. In a small percentage of cases the cancer may be surgically removed, but this requires rapid detection while the cancer is still small and limited to one section of the liver. ALL GROUPS are affected by liver cancer, although males four times more frequently than

Extension Service

Is Wide-ranging

ED. NOTE: This is one in a series of artlclea by First Call for Help, a division of the United Way of Cape May County, explaining human service agencies. First Call, at 729-2255, can refer persons to the appropriate agency. If you have ever noticed that modern, rustic buHding on Dennisville Road and wondered what the Cooperative Extension Service is, you would have one idea by the success of the recent 4-H Fair this past July. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of Rutgers, New Jersey’s State University The purpose of the extension is to help people help themselves with the assistance of objective information, help in identifying problems, and to make and act on their own decisions through the use of the latest technology. The Agricultural Extension Program is designed to help residents of Cape May County from farms to cities, including such areas as vegetable crops, gardens, horticulture, livestock, poultry, home gardens, landscaping, water conservation, and community resource management. The Cape May County Board of Agriculture represents agricultural and rural life interests and operates as the County Unit of the New

Jersey Farm Bureau. "LEARNING FOR Living”* is the theme of the Home Economics Department educational program. Providing workshops and group and individual consultations, the Home Economics Department educates individuals in the changing cycles of family life, including parenting, nutrition, spending and saving the family dollars and interpersonal relationships. The 4-H program is for all youth — tural and urban — from all social backgrounds. It reaches girls and boys through television, camping and other educational .methods, and in programs planned to meet specific needs of youth and the communities where they live. Girls and boys 7-19 learn by doing in project that give them knowledge of science, agriculture, home economics, personal development and community citizenship. The New Jersey Sea Grant Extension Service provides informational and educational services and is the direct contact link with the County’s commercial fin-fishing and shellfishing industries. A phone call to the Cooperative Extension Service at 465-5115 will connect you with the full range of family and community services.

County Lib by Kathleen Duffy

Do you remember Fibber McGee's closet? The buzzing that heralded the Green 'Hornet and the Whistler? The Cape May County Library has materials to delight Old Time Radio fans. On records they provide actual radio broadcasts from Inner Sanctum, Lights Out, Superman, and Sherlock Holmes to other famous weekly programs. One of my personal favorites is The Great Radio Feud with W.C. Fields, Edgar Bergan, Charlie McCarthy and Don Ameche. On cassette? tapes which are loaned, the programs selections range from Terry and the Pirates. Chandu the Magician. Buck Rogers and The Fred Allen Show to Duffy's Tavern.

In the book department there is The Big Radio Comedy Program, which is a collection of the best scripts by the best performers at the height of their radio popularity. The Great Radio Heroes from meddling Ma Perkins, the martyred Stella Davis to the fair-minded Jack Armstrong, this book reveals secret identities, authors, actors', and sponsors. To help you remember who Ma Perkins’ lumberyard friend was (Shuffle Sholier) or who was the voice of Superman (Clayton “Bud" Collier), there are reference books such\s Tune in Yesteryear; The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio; The Big Broadcast 1920 1950 and Radio's Golden Years!

by Dr. Robert C Bcitman

females. At high risk are those with scarring of the liver, ‘’cirrhosis’’. For these individuals liver cancel- is generally a fatal complication. Individuals who are hepptitis B carriers and those with chronic hepatitis type B infections are also at greater risk. In Africa and Asia, liver cancer is a very common cause of death. In parts of Africa it accounts for 25 percent of all deaths. This is believed to be due to a fungus which grows on grains and peanuts in underdeveloped countries. Certain childhood genetic diseases are associated with liver cancer, as you may be aware from the well publicized attempts at liver transplants. Individuals with a rare iron storage disease, hemochromatosis, also are at greater risk. SIGNS AND symptoms of which you should be aware include the following. (Please keep in mind that these symptoms overlap with other disorders, so do not jump to conclusions if you have some of them.) If concerned, report your findings to your 'family physician so

that a proper evaluation can be performed. Symptoms include general abdominal pain, or pain in the right upper abdominal quadrant. There will usually be a loss of weight and appetite and often on going unexplained fever. You will generally look and feel unwell, needing-extra rest, having a loss of energy, and con stantly feeling very full in your abdomen. It is com mon to have excess gas and constipation Fluid (ascites) may accumulate in the abdomen and legs. Jaundice (yellowing) of the .skin, whites of eyes and fingernails may occur. You may be very tender in the liver area, almost untouchable in some cases. A lump may even be felt. Men can ex perience the side effect of enlarged breasts. Some people develop hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which contributes to their feeling of weakness. Unusually high blood levels of calcium may be found. AS THE DISEASE progresses there may be inter nal bleeding due to blood vessel damage from the cancer. Any blood coming up in vomit, coughing or in

the bowel movement Is a serious sign in even the healthiest person These signs should be investigated immediately. When individuals with cirrhosis of the liver begin a sudden decline in health, they may have developed liver cancer. Your medical evaluation may include such tests as a liver scan, CAT scan, special blood tests and a biopsy\of the liver. All are quick af\d easy to perform. Treatment.depend greatly upon which stage the disease is in Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be helpful in extending life in some cases, although we do not have a cure for liver cancer. There is a great deal of research in progress on liver cancer and much yet to be Undertaken. Regret tably, it is often a fatal disease. Yet, knowledge of these symptoms is an im-, portant part of our preventive medicine program. Particularly in liver cancer, early detection can save or extend your life. This column is a project of the Cape May County Unit of the American Cancer Soceity.

Library Has Old Fossils COURT HOUSE - An exhibition of five fossil bones from a 10,000-year old mastodon skeleton is on view at the County Library untiPAug. 26 /The exhibit, on loan through theState Museum’s Traveling Exhibition Service, shows a palate with four teeth; part of a fibula; a tusk fragment; a cervical vertebra, and a pelvis section which includes a hip socket Fossil evidence show that the mtistodon died between 10,000 and 20.000 years ago, during the latter part of the Ice Age An artist’s conception of a living mastodon shows many elephant-like characteristics, including large size, a long trunk and upper teeth enlarged into tusks -They weVe herbivores. Over 50 mastodon specimens have been found in New Jersey This par ticular mastodon’s remains - were discovered near Sparta in Sussex County during April, 1972, when a crane operator, Ramon Casal. encountered the bones while dredging a swampy area in Sparta Township.

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Stone Harbor — 368-291 I Avalon — 967-7541 Dennisville *-861-5152 North Cape May — 884-5656 Cape May Court House — 465-2700