This condition is all too commo, and is the second most frequent cause of death. The term “cancer” covers a group of allied disorders which have uncommon the unrestrained growth of some small part of the body with the formation of a lump or tumor.

Normally the growth of any particular part of the body is carefully regulated to meet with its requirements.

When some part jis injured the cells (minute lying structures) of which it is composed multiply until the injury is made good, at the whole process is controlled. In the condition of cancer, for some reason, a group of cells starts to multiply abnormally and continues to do so, disorganizing the normal working of the body Smoothies groups of these cells may be carried to distant parts of the body by the blood and there set up fish tumors. If the process continues unchecked some vital organ will eventually become so disorganized that life cannot continue.

It is vital the lay person should not take the all-too-curable if tken early- that is the point. The most effective treatment, in numerous instances, is still surgery, which means cutting out the affected part.

If all the cancer cells are removed jthe condition will be rued. The smaller the tumor, the less chance it has had to spread, and the more likely is complete cure. There adre also other valuable means of treatment such as radiotherapy, anti-tumor drugs, and certain hormones. Research indicts that some cancers are due to chemicals in the environment perhaps the greatest hope is prevention. Methods for detecting and identifying cancer-producing chemicals are being developed and will help to clean upour surroundings. Sources are industrial waste, car exhausts and cigarette smoke.

New treatments being developed include high energy irradiation such as neutron beams. New drugs and new combinations of old drugs are showing promise in some cancers.

The illness in not common before 40 and the incidence increases with age. Perhaps the cells become less efficient at dealing with injury due to irritant s over this age. THE KEYNOTE OF SUCCESS IS EARLY TREATMENT. Anyone who has a symptom which does not go inside a few weeks should consult a doctor. Danger signals are a lump in breast (see BREAST) or testicle, etc., persistent cough (more than three weeks), persistent change in bowel habit, loss of weight, persistent or recurrent pain and the appearance of blood, for example from the bowel, in urine, from the mouth after coughing or vomiting, from the nipple or from the vagina after the menopause or between periods. The chne are there may be some other explanation which your doctor will be able to put right. If yur doctor is suspicious he will be able to advise tests to establish the diagnosi.

(See LEUKAEMIA and CERVIX.) Car Sickness.
(See TRAVELSICKNESS.)

The medical term for “stone”. Stones may form in organs such as the gall bladder, kidneys or the urinary bladder, and cause pain and other disturbances. Once a stone has formed and causes trouble, removal by an operation is generally necessary. Some small kidney stones can be treated by exteranlshock wawes. Drugs are now available which dissolve gall stones but recurrence after stopping treatment may be a problem. (See GALL BLADDER, KIDNEY DISEASE and STONES.)

For: Caesarian Section (See BIRTH)

A small sac containing fluid which protects part of the body from injury. It is usually found over some prominent bone which it cushions. If a bursa becomes inflamed it is known as bursitis. This most commonly occurs in the feet, Elbows and knees. There jis a small bursa at the base of each of the big toes on the inner side. This commonly becomes inflamed through wearing too tight shoes and is often known as a BUNION.

If protected from pressure by wearing loose shoes or slippers, it will often subside. A small pad round the bunion mayo help. Where symptoms ascribed to bunions are in fact due to rigidity of the toe points (hallux rigid us) foot exercises such as picking up marbles or bean bags with the toes may help.

In a true bunion the bursa may become infected and discharge ps. The treatment is rest, heat and antibiotics. An operation may be the best way of preventing further trouble. Final results are usually good although a long convalescence with several weeks hobbling on crutches will have to be endured.

Bunions are agony; worse than toothache and those who wear tight shoes will probably pay a painful pricw. Every child should be allowed enough room for the foot to grow within the shoe. Parents must keep a watchful eye to see that the toes do not become cramped.
In the knee there is a bursa over the knee-cap which may become inflamed if much kneeling is fone (housemaids). This subsides with rest, and it may be necessary to aoid kneeling. Exercising the parts, but not to the extendt of agony, can help to dissipate adhesions and prevent recurrence.

A knwee or elbow arthro-pad worn for ad day or two (not regularly because of weakening effect on muscles) may help. This should be obtainable at good chemists.

Injury caused by excessive heat to part of the body so as to damage jor kills the tissues. It may be due to a flame, a hot object, excessive sunlight, or boiling water when the condition is called a SCALD. There is no pratical difference between a burn and scald. Burns may also be caused by chemicals. In mild cases there may be only reddening of the skin (first degree).

In second degree there is blistering, and in third degree, the whole skin thickness is destroyed, and the area appears charred. There are tow chief dangers. First is shock, a severe form of collapse which follows extensive burns. Second is infection. When the tissues are killed or injured they cannot defend against invasion by germs, so that burns easily become infected and “fester”.

The immediate home treatment of burns (dry or wet) is to cool in cold running water; damage and pain can thus be reduced. Continue cooling until there is no further pain (up to thirty minutes if necessary). If the burn is severe odor large (e.g. a blistered area more than 1″(25 mm) across in a child or 3″ (75 mm) in an adult) shock should be treated by wrapping unburned areas with extra clotting or a blanket and giving a warm. Sugared drink if patient is conscious.

Urgent medical treatment is required for large burns but initial cooling is always necessary. Smaller burns can be covered by a freshly laundered handkerchief. Later they can be dressed with cariole cream or beta dines spray and covered with a no-stick million dressing. Do not apply creams. If “festering” occurs, consult your doctor who may give antibiotics.

Bronchoscopy
A procedure whereby the specialist uses an illuminated tube to look down the large breathing tubes and by which he can detect certain illnesses and take samples for testing.

Brucellosis
Infection caught by contact with infected cattle or their milk and characterized by intermittent fever, aches and pains. As symptoms are vague it is difficult to diagnose and should be considered whenever here is unexplained, persistent fever. People in rural areas should avoid drinking unpasteurised milk. Frequent veterinary inspection and testing of cattle is important for the prevention of this distressing disease.

Bruises
Caused by violence which does not break the skin, but injures the tissues. Colour hanges are due to bleeding into the damaged tissues. The only treatment is time, which brings a return to normal. If painful cold compress lint wrung out in ice-cold water- helps. A black eye is one variety of bruise. The proverbial beef steak is no use. In children a loving cuddle is often the bedst medicine. Bunion. (See BURSA.)

A severe infection of the smallest breathing tubes in babies. Any baby with breathing difficulty needs urgent medical attention. A humid warm atmosphere helps temporarily. (See CROUP)

A chronic lung infection due to weakness and distortion of the smaller breathing tubes or bronchi. It can sometimes be helped by an operation to remove the affected part of the lung. If can be an after-effect of whooping cough and is one good reason for having infants immunized in the first year of life.

A normally inactive gland which after a birth begins to function and produce milk (lactation). Sometimes perseverance is needed before breast feeding is established, and a mother should try because breast milk is best for the infant. It contains valuable substances for warding off infection which cannot be replaced artificially. Where there is a family history of allergy (asthma and eczema), breast feeding may protect the baby against later allergic illness. It should be continued for as long as possible, perhaps up to nine months, although of course other solids may be introduced at four to six months.

Sometimes during lactation germs enter the breast, which becomes painful and inflamed, and a breast abscess (see ABSCESS) may develop. This is usually preceded by a sore, creaced nipple; modern sprays and careful drying after washing with plain water should present this condition but if it does occur seek medical advice at the onset so that abscess formation is prevented. Antibiotics can cure at this sage and Brest feeding continues. If an abscess does develop, hot poultices may be applie as an emergency, but urgent medical advice is required.

Any lump in the breast, or problem; at any age, calls for medical advice. Self- examination of the breasts Examine your breasts regularly, at the same time each month, e.g. the day after your period ceases. If you have passed the “change of life”, the first day of the calendar month.

Examine the upper part of the breast, including the armpit, then the lower and central parts of the breast.

With your right hand, examine the whole of your left breast, as shown in the diagrams, starting at the armpit. Then examine the right breast with the left hand. It is important to use the flat of your hand, keeping your finger tips held lightly together, making sure that the finger tips, the most sensitive part of the hand, follow the same path as the flat of your hand.

Should you find a lop in the breast, or any of the following “warning signs”, which was not present last month, go to your doctor and say “I have a lump in my breast” or “There is something wrong which I was not aware of last month”.

Tell him carefully what difference you have noticed, and ask his advice. Through lack of knowledge some women only report to their doctor when a lump or swelling in the beast has been present a long time. The following point may be “warning sings” that something could be wrong: A lump or swelling in the breast. Pain in the breast, not confined to a before a period. A stained discharge from the maple, or skin trouble around the nipple, or a “puling in” of the nipple. An alteration in the appearance of the breast, e.g. dimpling or puckering of the skin. A change in shape or size of one breast, compared with the other breast, which has occurred during the month. Most of the above symptoms require specialist investigation.

Tests include special X-rays and drawing off fluid if it is a cystc swelling. If three jis a doubt, the specialist will wish to remove the lump. Often the lump is removed and the test is reported as satisfactory. Many surgeons now believe that wide excision of a malignant lump is as effective as mastectomy (removal of breast). Discuss available treatment with your doctor or surgeon before operation.

The operation of mastectomy is not very serious although the psychological blow is immense. The Mastectomy Association, of Corydon, London, formed by women who have had this operation, gives general advice and support.
The patient is fitted with an artificial breast and special bra as soon as possible and again the mastectomy Association can often help with any problems. Radiotherapy and drugs may be given after operation if your specialist feels this necessary. Careful follow-up is needed and the patient should never lose touch with her specialist unless discharged.

The outlook can be good if the lump is caught early. I know several sprightly eighty year-olds who had sucessfuli operations thirty years ago. Information on self-examination of the breasts courtesy of South-west Thames Regional Cancer Services.

This technique of transferring blood from a healthy donor to a patient saves many lives. Operations, once impossible, can be performed with relative safety, and accident cases, perhaps bleeding after childbirth, have a better chance of recovery, as have some kinds of anemia; “Blood banks” are kept to be readily available in emergency, and giving blood for transfusions safe, and simple. Everyone who is healthy and not in a risk group for A.I.D.S. should volunteer. (See BLOOD GROUPS and A.I.D.S.) Blue Baby.

Person born with heart defects hindering the blood being pumped efficiently to the lungs. This results in blood lacking oxygen being sent to the rest of the body so that the patient looks blue or dusky. Good results are now obtained by surgery and one of my patients with this history has had her own normal baby after an uncomplicated pregnancy and birth.

The heart is a specially adapted muscle which pumps blood through blood vessels around the body. This results in the blood being under pressure, and since the vessels become hardened with age, and have less “give”, the blood pressure tends to rise. It is thus normal to have a rather higher blood presume at sixty than at twenty. At an earlier age in certain conditions, kidney disease, gland disease, and sometimes for no apparent reason, the pressure may rise to dangerous levels. The chief rises are that the heart may be unable to cope or a blood vessel may burst in some organ such as the brain (see STROKE).

Even in normal persons the pressure varies greatly and there is a wide margin of increased pressure varies greatly and there is a wide margin of increased pressure that the heart and vessels can deal with without great danger. Lay people tend to e frightened of hypertension, but those widths a moderate rise in the pressure may live for years. I have known sufferers who reached great age, and died from something unconnected. Be advised by your doctor. He will probably arrange tests to see if there is a curable cause and check for any sign of adverse effect on heart or kidneys. He will suggest a reducing diet if you are overweight, abstention from smoking and reduction of animal fats if these are indicated. He may perhaps prescribe tablets to reduce the pressure.

There are usually no symptoms of loud pressure; it is often found during a routine medical insurance examination. Occasionally, headaches and giddiness are found to be caused by raise blood pressure. Once you are known to have raised blood pressure you will need the pressure checked occasionally, (be guided by your own doctor). As treatment-mint may need to be adjusted. You should continue accustomed activities but if you have taken no exercise for years do not suddenly take up vigor’s exercise such as squash; start gradually with short walks and build up. Blood Tests. Many conditions can be checked on by blood tests, Anemia and other blood diseases can be detected as can kidney and liver disorders and some venereal diseases. Too much cholesterol ( a fatty substance associated with heart and artery disease) may be found and many chronic illnesses, glandular diseases and forms of arthritis can be confined by blood tests. The blood levels of alcohol, drugs and poisons may be measured (it is sometimes useful to know if the patient is taking his tablets!). One value of tests is that, if negative, they reassure the patient who may fear the worst. (See BLOOD GROUPS.)