into the hearts of all who hear it. Why? Because there is a general belief that cancer is synonymous with death.

Similarly, it seems, many people associate the PALS (Patients' Assistance League & Service) van outside a residence with impending death, and there is even a widely held misconception that PALS, a registered charity, only deals with terminally ill cancer patients.

All of which is quite untrue.

"PALS supports any cancer patient in any way we can. Many of our patients just need an eye kept on them -- checking their blood or diet, and helping with any little problems they may have,'' its chairman, Mrs. Ann Smith Gordon explained.

"As for the PALS van, we want people to see it as is a symbol of hope and wellness, and all that is good. It is certainly not a herald of death,'' Mrs.

Gordon stressed.

Specifically, PALS is dedicated to caring for cancer patients in their homes.

Its objectives are: to help raise and maintain a patient's morale; reduce stress in the family unit; aid the relatives as much as possible by offering friendship and support; improve the quality of life for each patient, as well as the family; provide the best home care service available.

"We don't go into a home where we are not wanted or needed,'' Mrs. Gordon said. "And the first stipulation is that we go into a home with the blessing of a patient's doctor. In any case, the doctors have an excellent rapport with our nurses, and they know the nurses are skilled and up to date in their training. They know they can rely on them.'' Nonetheless, PALS is currently appealing to local doctors to make newly-diagnosed patients more aware of their organisation because not all of them do.

"New patients are usually devastated when they hear the diagnosis of cancer, and don't know where to turn. Increasingly, I am being telephoned by these patients and can readily see that by talking with them, and explaining our work, they are greatly relieved and feel considerably more comfortable about their future,'' Mrs. Gordon said.

In going about its work, PALS employs four full-time nurses, and about 70 caring, trained volunteers who are assigned to a particular patient. Both nurses and volunteers visit patients regularly.

"Our four nurses and three vans are on the road eight hours a day. After hours, there is a nurse constantly on call,'' Mrs. Gordon explained. "The nurses do a great deal of counselling -- not just of the patients but the family too, and so do some of the volunteers who have had a little experience in the medical field.'' And PALS nurses are unique, the chairman noted, because they "do everything, so there is a wonderful rapport and a great deal of trust and friendship between them and the patients''.

"In 1991 our nurses made 4681 patient visits, and we had 116 new patients,'' Mrs. Gordon said.

Regular attendance at medical and training seminars keeps PALS nurses fully up to date on cancer patient care, including symptoms, treatment, pain control and counselling skills.

"PALS is in constant touch with organisations abroad who provide literature, videos, guidelines and so forth to educate and assist our volunteers in their duties,'' Mrs. Gordon said.

She listed a compassionate nature, a sense of humour and a firm commitment to give time as the main qualities required of PALS volunteers.

"We ask for a commitment of 50 hours per year, including attending monthly meetings,'' Mrs. Gordon said. "We don't want people who join everything for the sake of it and who are not available when we need them.'' And indeed volunteers perform an invaluable service, for not only do they visit patients regularly, offering friendship and support, but they provide transportation, whether it be to keep medical appointments or simply take them for a drive.

"The volunteers do a lot of driving,'' Mrs. Gordon said, "but they also visit, chat, and share a cup of tea. A lot of people are lonely at home and can't get out because the family is working. The volunteer's work is limitless, really.

"In fact, they build up such a rapport with patients that when the patients get better, as many do, and we need to get them off our books it is sometimes difficult because they don't want to lose contact. In many cases, the patients then become helpers at our fairs and so forth.'' For those sent to Poole in Dorset, England for radiation treatment, PALS has a willing volunteer in Miss Pam Smith, Mrs. Gordon's cousin, who offers friendship and assistance with the little things that make a stay more comfortable.

Behind the scenes, a hard-working committee of management -- all volunteers -- give generously of their time and talent attending to the business matters. In addition to nursing and volunteer services, PALS provides a variety of equipment for its patients -- electric beds, commodes, sheepskins and "eggbox'' foam mattresses to alleviate bedsores, food supplements, oxygen concentrators which convert normal air to a 92 percent oxygen content, and medical supplies.

Incredibly, PALS charges nothing for any of the services it provides to patients -- "except for the cost price of food supplements if a person can afford to pay. If they can't, they don't,'' Mrs. Gordon said.

Its operating costs -- which include the nurses' salaries -- are therefore enormous, and PALS relies mainly on donations and fund-raisers for its existence.

"A great percentage of our income is derived from memorial donations which come about in lieu of funeral flowers, and people also send us cheques to mark special anniversary dates. In addition, businesses, charitable organisations and individuals also raise funds on our behalf,'' Mrs. Gordon explained.

"But we don't sit back and wait for donations. I think it is important that we make our own efforts, so each year we hold a fair in the autumn, a sponsored walk, a fish fry, a food stall at the Agricultural Exhibition, a slide show, and a tag day outside the City of Hamilton. In addition, Lady Langley, our patron, has raised funds on her own.'' In fact, the Governor's wife is an indefatigable and dedicated worker on behalf of PALS. Far from being a titular patron, she regularly entertains PALS patients at Government House, accompanies PALS nurses on their rounds and helps prepare for the annual fair.

"Lady Langley has been absolutely marvellous, we are going to miss her tremendously,'' Mrs. Gordon said.

If cancer is not always an automatic killer today, why is there such fear? The problem goes back to the days when medical technology and treatments were limited and the prognosis, therefore, was poor. The public hasn't forgotten.

"Cancer is not the number one cause of death, heart disease is,'' Mrs. Gordon said. "Yet, if a doctor says cancer it strikes overwhelming fear in even the strongest person.'' Education, she said, was the answer, and PALS was anxious to help many more people than it presently does in this regard.

"We don't go against medical advice, we give moral and emotional support, and there must be dozens more that we can reach. My telephone rings constantly with anxious, newly-diagnosed patients seeking advise on what to do next after their doctor has told them they have the disease.

"I want people to know that cancer is not necessarily a sentence of death.

There are so many new drugs coming on the market and other treatment advances being made that there is real hope for cancer patients today. The outlook is so much brighter.'' And well over 1000 cancer survivors in Bermuda proves the point.

As for cancer patients themselves, Mrs. Gordon said it is important for them to have the proper outlook.

"I want people to focus on living their lives to the fullest and enjoying all the wonderful things around them in this beautiful Island. Quality of life is important.'' Patients should also pursue honesty both in dealing with their illness and their relationships with their doctor.

"I believe honesty is important. If a patient wishes to know about his or her condition, medication, treatment, or anything else that affects them, they have a right to those answers. Patients are obligated to ask a doctor questions if they want answers. The doctor doesn't know what is going on in every mind.'' As to what people could do to avoid the risk of cancer, she said: "All of us should be paying attention to our lifestyles and eating habits, because there is no question about it, a lot of cancers can be avoided. The American Cancer Society says that 80 percent of all cancers are due to lifestyle. That is a shocking statistic. We must be more aware of what we eat, stop smoking, not breathe the wrong things. There is so much we can do to help ourselves.'' Anyone wishing to know more about PALS, or to receive its assistance, should telephone 292-3875.

WHAT MAKES PALS TICK ... A dedicated team of nurses, volunteers, and management committee, headed by enthusiastic patron Lady Langley (right centre) and chairman Mrs. Ann Smith Gordon (left centre) all contribute to the success of the Patients' Assistance League & Service (PALS).