Show CANCER Answer line American Cancer Society A regular feature prepared by the American Cancer Society to help save your life from cancer A woman explains A friend friend told me that you said something about hormone pills for a womans woman's change of life and cancer Could you repeat it ii please because I take those pills Therapeutic estrogen hormones which can help correct the hormonal imbalance of menopause are useful and important to many women However because reported recently-reported statistical studies have associated estrogen estrogen estrogen estro estro- gen intake with an increased risk of a form of uterine cancer cancer cancer can can- it is important for women like yourself to have a checkup check check- up including a pelvic examination examination examination and Pap test every six months These recent studies are a reason for not caution-not alarm and alarm and your physician is best qualified to answer your questions about hormone treatment for you A high school teacher writes I just finished a magazine article that left me with the impression that there is a conspiracy to keep some cancer cancer cancer can can- drugs from patients These drugs are available in places like Mexico and Germany Is this true There is no conspiracy to ban or prevent the use of drugs which could save prolong or ease the lives of cancer patients-but patients there is a deep concern that any drug given to a patient be of value without undue danger For that reason all drugs in inthis inthis inthis this country must pass very very rigorous testing and cross The scientific community here works with investigators abroad for the benefit of all The governments government's governments governments government's govern govern- ments ment's National Cancer Institute Institute Institute tute continues to test thousands thou sands of chemotherapeutic agents and we now have about 50 that are useful against human cancer algne or in combination A store owner tells us its Last week I put a No Smoking Please sign that 1 I made myself myself my- my self right on my counter Many of my customers said that they were glad to see it Id I'd like a more professional- professional looking sign Where can I get one Your local American Cancer Society has hasa a sign that says Thank You for Not Smoking Its It's yours for the asking A reader says says- I was using a t mirror mirror to check my throat because because because be be- cause it felt sore While my throat looked all right I l did notice some white patches on the roof of my mouth Is that thata a cause for alarm White patches in any part of the mouth or oron oron oron on the tongue might possibly be a warning signal You You should definitely bring this condition to the attention of ofa a physician or your dentist Both are trained to recognize possible cancer It probably is not cancer but if it should be the earlier the diagnosis the better the that outlook-that is as true for oral cancer as it itis itis is for all forms of this disease A mother writes My son is in a class with a little boy who is being treated for leukemia While the child is doing well I 1 cant can't help but be afraid that he will give the disease to my son The only thing that you have to fear is the superstition that cancer is iscon contagious con con- Your son is absolutely safe But your attitude might deprive him of a friend and cause grief to the other child Perhaps a talk with your sons son's pediatrician might help put your mind at rest i |