© BUSIEST COMMUNITY CLINIC IN B.C. 495 patients treated 1994/95 > approximately 2,400 chemo n therapy treatments 585 patients treated 1995/96. > approximately LGH cancer clinic is busiest in the province By Jolanda Waskito Contributing Writer SOME people diagnosed with cancer can’t bring themselves to say the word. “They call it an ‘abnormality’ or ‘numor growth’,” said Dr. Paul Klimo, medical director of the Outpatient Cancer Treatment Clinic at Lions Gate Hospital. “But sometimes we have to utter the dirry word.” Klimo says the dirty word all the time. He’s dedicated his life to fighting cancer. The oncologist, a specialist in che study of cancer, started work- ing at the hospital part-time in 1983. Over the years he’s realized that a holistic view of treating cancer is 2 healthier approach. “Pm personally not trained in holistic or naturopathic medicine,” Kimo said. “We try to be supportive to the patient; they may take vita- mins and herbal remedies. “Inicially there was much more antagonism between tradition- al medicine (and alternative medicine). At both ends people real- ize that treating cancer is a challenge for everybody. “We’re not in the game of, ‘You’re for us or against us,’ because the enemy is common.” - As Klimo’s knowledge of treating the disease grew, so did the dinic staff and its expertise. The oncology clinic at Lions Gate Hospital, well-respected in the medical profession, has participat- ed in local, national and international research in the treatment of * cancer. Yet the busy and prestigious clinic, which treats patients niainly with chemotherapy, had humble beginnings. Klune recalls a time when the cancer clinic was a room in “a lit- tle corner with no windows.” “It started in a little back room, like a storage room,” Klimo said. “We would have patients three or four ina row.” In those days, drugs to off- set the — side-etfects of chemotherapy — nausea and vomiting — weren't available. “The final drop was when one lady was sitting there get- ting chemotherapy and con- stantly vomited in front of patients sitting there. We said, “We can’t do this anymore like this.” Tn 1988 the clinic moved to the main floor of the hospital. It’s now based in three rooms, with up to cight beds, a kitchen and a lounge area. “It didn’t take long before administration provided patients with the appropriate environment,”. Klimo said. Because the hos- pital also has departments such as surgery, neurology, gynecology and urology, a patient diagnosed with cancer in the hospital received prompt care. Said Klimo, “You can imagine your moth- er if she had a breast lump. Instead of waiting three or four weeks until someone tells her she is going to die or be OK, right on the scene we can begin the process of curing, healing and helping. s0 as she recovers from surgery she can be referred to the clin- For Klimo, the job brings difficulty and triumph. . “We lose a lot of patients but we do cure patients and we rejoice in recoveries,” he said. “We have to be careful we don’t burn ourselves out.” 2 DR. Paul Kiimo, medical director of the LGH can- cer clinic. ic. The City of North Vancouver ICBC CLAIMS : % Protect yourself » Hire an expertenced {CBC Claims Lawyer JOHN NOBLE 669-9755 Free House Calls IMPORTANT NOTICE —sT RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE COLLECTION | — Effective May 5, 1997, the City of North Vancouver will begin a new residential garbage collection program which will set the “standard Make your next move an informed one. Get the results you deserve... 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Sales Representative, —<- sdvertisement service level” at 3 bags or cans per week collected from each household. — Each container or bag must not weigh more than twenty (20) kilograms (45 pounds). — For the collection of “extra” cans/bags, (in excess of 3), a special TAG ol must be attached. — TAGS can be purchased for $1.00 from City Hail (or the City Library after 4:30 p.m.) and at the Lonsdale, William Griffin, Karen Magnussen and Delbrook Recreation Centres. ; —- Each TAG is good for the removal of one bag/can of garbage not to exceed 20 kilograms (45 pounds) in weight (the tags are not. : reuseable). —- A Provincial mandate has been put in place stating that garbage waste MUST be reduced significantly by the year 2000. This new standard service level will help us in reducing the amount of garbage we send to the landfill. — If you have any questions or concerns, please call 987-7155. Please do your part ........ REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE ...... seeeee IT’S WORTH IT !1! THREE IS THE LIMIT ... ONE IS THE GOAL! i The City of North Vancouver