Few diseases can strike terror in the hearts of ift vic
tims quicker than GENITAL HERPES, a newly ram-;
pant viral infection which has become the second most,
common venereal disease in the United States1,
(gonorrhea is the most common) and is causing great1
concerrt among public health authorities.
Genital Herpes5 is a nightmare that won't go away:
It's a venereal disease that can't be cured, that can flare
up time and again for many years, that is linked to an
increased risk of cancer of the cervix, that causes severe
birth defects and that is spreading rapidly in the United
States.
A VD expert with the New York City Health Depart
ment says "It's the worst sexually transmitted disease
for a woman to have in the present state of knowledge."
This writer discussed the disease this week with a VD
expert at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta,
hoping to hear some good news to report. In spite of in
tensive research by VD authorities throughout the coun
try, there is still "no known effective treatment for ,
herpes."
Happiness Through Health
The Venereal Disease That Can't Be Cured
By Otto McClarrin
The Center for Disease Control, the national federal
center, estimates that three to four million Americans
have genital herpes, and that there are as many as
500,000 new cases a year, the worst of it is that "every
single new case is an addition to the patient pool. No
one is ever subtracted. If you find a new case of syphilis
or gonorrhea you can also subtract a case, because you
can treat those diseases. There is no treatment for
herpes," experts say.
The disease is caused by herpes simplex virus. Tradi
tionally, physicians have drawn a distinction between
herpes type one, which has been blamed for cold sores,
and herpes type two, which has been blamed for genital
herpes. Recent studies indicate that both viruses can
cause genital herpes infections.
THE SYMPTOMS OF GENITAL HERPES can vary
widely. Some people who become infected can escape
almost unharmed. But in many patients, the virus can
cause painful clusters of fluid-filled blisters in the
area of the vagina in women, and on the penis in men.
And qnce contracted, genital herpes infection is perma
nent. 4
After the first outbreak, the virus retreats into nerve
cells and becomes inactive. But new outbreaks can occur
SAT., DECEMBER 6, 1983 THE CAROLINA TIMES -11 ;
at any time. They can be triggered by any number of
conditions an emotional upset, fever, sexual inter
course, even tight undergarments, some women have art"
outbreak every menstrual period,
And the experts say there isn't much the, can do
. about those outbreaks. Any number of drugs have been
tried and have given promising early results. None has
proved to be of lasting value..
"There are almost monthly calims about effective
drugs," said Dr. Paul J. Wiesner, director of VD con
trol at the Center for Disease Control. "Careful studies
have found that when these medications are compared
to placebo treatment, which consists of washing io af
fected area very carefully and drying ii thoroughly,
placebo has done better."
That is why experts such as Wiesner are cauiious in
their assessment of a recent report by physicians at the
University of Pennsylvania about the successful use of
an anti-viral compound called 2-deoxy-D-gIuose
against genital herpes. They hope that the drug is effec
tive, but there have been many previous hopes that have
been disappointing. Future studies will tell the story.
Cancerphobia the fear of cancer has gripped
America with black Americans being no exception. One
in four Americans risks contracting cancer, though in
1979, the U.S. was 19th among all nations for cancer as
a cause of morbidity. It is likely that in 1980, twenty per
cent of all deaths will be due to cancer. In 1950, the in-1
cidence of cancer in the black community was two per
cent lower than that of the white community. By 1967,
the incidence of cancer was eighteen per cent higher .
than that of the white community. Whether this change
is due to previous under-reporting or due to the fact that
blacks are usually relegated to the hardest and dirtiest i
jobs or live nearest factories and polluted (
neighborhoods, is unclear. What seems apparent is that
blacks could improve our survival "if we knew more '
about the disease, available testing, had regular medical I
check-ups, recognized warning signs, and knew of the
many forms of cancer treatment," per Dr. LaSalle
Lefalle, president of the American Cancer Society.
WHAT IS CANCER? Cancer is not one disease but a ;
diverse array of diseases which include leukemia, lym- .
phoma, sarcomas, melanomas and over 300 different
types of the disease. A cancer is a tumor or growth
which has become malignant or grown rapidly without
Justico
(Continued from Page 10)
exploitation and racism, the basic causes of !
conflict and disorder in the American t
criminal justice system." ,
They hit hard at economic injustice,
describing minorities as being the true vie-
tims "much more likely than whites to be in ;
the lowest income group, unemployed, ill-
housed, and subject to poorer health care." ,
Their most profound conclusion in my
view is that "the demographic conditions
which are superficially responsible for high
rates of urban crime will not soon disappear.
To grasp the implications of the situation, it
should be noted that during the Great
Depression of the thirties, mass unemploy
ment never exceeded 25 per cent, but the
Vice President's Task Force on Youth
Employment reported tat the unemployment
rate for black and Hispanic inner-city
teenagers in 1979 was 20.7 for blacks and
37 for Hispanics, and this conditions con-,
third' of the next1 generation? '6'Frrilffcfrity ! n'
youth will never enter the labor force. This !
' means a major part of the young, minority i
urban population will remain in a condition !
of hopelessness and despair given present ,
rates of unemployment." !
'The link between crime and the economic ',
health of this nation, is often-times fraught
with ambiguity and incomplete definition.,
Still it is my view that gainful employment,
productive factories, price stability and
balanced economic growth are the only
forces able to deal a death-blow to crime and
all of its spin-offs. Although we shouldn't
use their view as an excuse to simply accept
flagrant violation of law.
The Advisory Council on Criminal Justice
says that we haven't learned this lesson yet.
But its obvious to me that unless we do,1
we will continue to wring our hands over ur
ban riots, social unrest and all the other!
manifestations of economic and social!
deprivation.
We do have a way out of this enigma, but
itr essentially means ensuring that the.
economic health of this nation is protected
by economic productivity of the kind that,
encourages our industries to produce goods,:
and guarantees our workers the opportunity1
to work.
Unusual And Practical Christmas Gifts
up to 750 RPM and recharges
In Just one hour.
SANDERS Anyone who has
ever used sandpaper and a lot
of elbow grease to finish fur-
Spectacles: A Closer Look
Cancer: What You Don't Know Can Kill You!
Parti
By Ada M. Fisher
seeming control. Benign tumors such as fibroids of the
uterus are rarely malignant and do not cause the same
type of concerns that malignant tumors do. Cancer re
mains an elusive disease whose cause still escapes
medical knowledge. Pollution, viruses, genetic in
heritance, personal habits and lifestyle have all been
shown to have an association with the disease.
MYTHS: "The lump will go away if I ignore it."
(The lies we tell ourselves to justify not going to the doc
tor may unnecessarily shorten our life.) 'Tis true that
there are some forms of cancer which medicine can do
nothing about; however, there are others for which the
treatments available do work. The number of successes
daily exceeds the failures. "If they find out I have
cancer, they will cut me and the air will cause the tumor
to spread!" (said in desperation). Surgery is not always
the first or best line of therapy though a non-major
precedure, such as a biopsy, is often necessary to get a
tissue diagnosis which should help identify what kind of
cancer it is and may assist in determining the extent of
spread of the cancer. If you have one of the seven warn
ing signs of cancer, do not hesitate, see your family doc
tor. "If I get cancer, it was because the Lord is
punishing me." Too many people sit and suffer until the
grip of pain is overwhelming or the spread of the disease
is rampant and beyond treatment. Unfortunately, they
feel that'they must go through this experience because
of some sin or wrong which they have committed.
Nowhere is this written. To blame the Lord seems to
miss the point that help is available if we would but avail
ourselves of it. "If I associate with someone with
cancer, I'll catch it." No matter what the etiologies for
cancer ultimately prove to be; whether we develop
cancer will probably rest on a combination of suscep
tibility, exposure, and genetics. It is unlikely that if
you're healthy you'll catch cancer from anyone. Do not
abandon friends or family members with cancer when
they need your support most. The myths go on but the
realities of cancer in our lives are real. Cancer is a
disease which strikes fear in our hearts and minds;
however, it is not a disease which finds us helpless in our
battle against it. Our environment, workplace, and per
'sonal lifestyles are but a few places that can be looked at
to stem the tide, of cancer spread.
LIFESTYLE: Early sexual intercourse (especially
noted with the rise in teenage pregnancies) and multiple
sexual partners are of some concern to the medical pro
fession as both correlate with the development of cer
vical cancer. Evidence further suggests that diet can af-"
feet one's risk of cancer. The Seventh Day Adventists
(who are vegetarians) and Humaas, both of -'whom are
non-red meat eaters, have a low to non-existent level of
cancer. The Mormons who use no alcohol, tobacco or
caffeine also have a low risk for the development of
cancer. Excess alcohol consumption has been related to
oral (mouth), esophageal (throat) and probably liver
.ancers. High fat diets are suspected as a factor in breast
and colon (large bowel) cancer. Statistics point to obesi
ty as a correlate in breast, uterine, and other cancers.
Yearly, over 100,000 cases of lung cancer are identified
with eighty per cent being related to smoking and the
use of tobacco products.
How many Love Canals will it take before we all
realize that in our urgency for technological progress
through chemistry, we have created chemical waste and
toxins whose effects await future generations to be
seen? Must we have another "Three Mile Island'- type
catastrophy before we realize that even if the level of
radiation is minute, what effect it will have on our
children or it will show up on us may take twenty years
to develop? Children who had their feet x-rayed years
ago for shoes, or tonsils irradiated for pharyngitis are
all showing a higher incidence of cancer than would nor
mally be expected. There is no question that exposure to
carcinogens such as radiation and polyvinylchlorides,
etc. can increase one's risk of developing cancer. It is
clear that much of cancer might be prevented by a
change in our lifestyles and some demands for en
vironmental and occupational safety. Next time a politi
cian yells less regulations; remember, regulations do nut
kill, but a lack of occupational safety and control of en
vironmental hazards can!
Though none of us would want it or wish it upon our
worst enemies, Cancer in many ways can be a kind
disease. Too many of us go through life thinking we
have all the time in the world to make good on our pro
mises. We defer until tomorrow what we could best do
today. Cancer patients realize all too soon, the
finiteness of life. They know that their tomorrows are
limited and that they must make the most of today.
Unlike the sudden death from a heart attack, very few
patients with cancer will die immediately. Cancer pa
tients have time to live and do the things they want to
do; to put their affairs in order; to enjoy much of life;
and to live in exciting scientific times when the possibili
ty of a new successful treatment or cure for their disease
may be found.
Black people wake up! Don't sit home festering or
worrying about whether or not you have cancer. Seek
medical care from your doctor. Remember, the life you
save may be your own.
(Next column,
Abounds)
Part II-Cancer Therapy: Hope
Ml:
I. y. 'srn;i
tSeagran&i
I Extra I
w .
3
Wouldn't It be nice to find
Christmas gifts for the whole
family that are guaranteed
not to get lost in the shuffle
of scarves, sweaters and per
fume? Finding. Interesting,
practical gifts is not as chal
lenging as one may think ac
cording to Mike Narcavage,
consumer product manager for
Skll Corporation. He says a
portable power tool is often
an overlooked gift, but one
that can be enjoyed by every
member of the family for sev
eral years.
Available from as little as
$13.00, power tools are becom
ing popular with people of all
ages more and more women
are tackling projects tradi
tionally handled by men, chil
dren are learning craftstnan
shln at earlier ages, and many
couples are remodeling their
dwellings with the help of nman -,
power toots. and paint -an appreciate an
Selecting the right tool for electric sander.. Beginners will
the right person Is not dlffl- find that an orbital sander
cult and your local hardware which operates up to 10,000
salesperson can provide help- orbits per minute wul probably
ful suggestions. meet their needs. However, a
Here are some tools that new belt sander hai .been! In-
would be welcome by people ZdL .iffl.
on your gift list: enough to tackle difficult Jobs
CORDLESS DRILLS A cord- used by beginners as wen as .
. leas drill is a handy tool for accomplished tradesmen. Ask ...
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U-onCtS WnnOUX tu nm Jvtf Mufr frw Sv,,
safe
chores, and projects without see the new belt sander for
worrying about extension cocas consumers,
or the availability of electrical
outlets. Available In a variety of
prices, shoppers should match ELECTRIC SAWS There are a
the drill to the person: Begin- yarlety of saws to match every
! ners will enjoy a lightweight job. Beginners win And a Jig
drill that operates at both 100 or sabre saw adequate for han
and 300 RPM. features forward dllng baste household chores
and reverse and recharges In while' circular and reclpro
less than three hours. And, saws are ideal for heavier cut
the accomplished handyperson ting. For outdoor jobs, such as
will desire a drill that has cutting wood and pruning
these features, variable speed trees, chain sawi-are wel
trlgger control that operates come Christmas gift.
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