The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-12-27
RADIUM IS NOT
CERTAIN CURE
Warning Acknowledgements Idea
of Value of Cancer Cases

Sew York. Dee. 2S.--Thc American
Society for the Control of Cancer
fears that exaggerated ideas Of the
power of radium in the treatment OF
cancer may result from the recent
publicity given to this agent i'm the
daily press. II appears highly i'm
por1ant at the present time that the
limitations of radium i'm the control
Of cancer should be emphasized as
we'll as it's favorable effects in GER
tain cases. otherwise the familiar
story ot new hopes, destined only t.
disappointment, will again bc record
ed at the expense of many unfortun-
ate sufferers.
The curative effects Of radmm are
practically limited today to superb
cial cancers of the skin to, superficial
growths of mucous membrane which
are not true cancers, and 10 some
deeper lying tumors of bone, ETC.,
which are not very malignant. Tho
problem of the constitutional treat
mcut of advanced. nOperahlc cancer
is still untouched by any method Yet
devised on likely To he devised for adj
mnistcring radium. Even among the
sC-called radium cured, it stll re-
mains to be determined in many cases
whether the favorable result is per-
mancnt or is To be followed sooner on
later by the usual recurrence. The
most competent surgeons do not dare
to pronounce q case cured until five
wears have elapsed after an appar
entity successful operation. The Same
test must be applied before we can fin
ally determine the real value of ra-
alum.
II should be emphasized especially
that radium cannot 1t present exert
any permanent benefit on gencrali2cd
cancer, and since cancer IN a very
large proportion of eases, is widely
disseminated i'm the body early i'm tho
group O fcHScs can expect 40 import
ant relief from radium. Another large
group of cancers is comparatively in
accessible to the application of ra-
dunn, 20 that the ultimate course Of
the disease is not affected, although
certain portions of the tumor may be
reduced in size. Again, many forms
Of cancer, although localized and ac-
rcssiole to radium, grow very rapid
~ ana resist the curative action ~
this agent. So that no real benefit can
be- expected from its use
The best results Of radium thcrapy
can be secured only when compare
lively large amounts are available foi
use and the present limited worlds
supply Of this metal places IL out oI
reach oC the great majority Of pa
TENTS. II is to Ne feared that much
larm may result from undue reliance
upon small quantities of low grade ra-
dunn when other methods Of treat
mcnt would he more effective,
Evidcrce of the possible extent %
popular msconception ON this SUB
ic,t is found i'm a pathetic letter re
Gently received at the New NorI
health department from a sufferer IL
california who had somehow obtain
"a the impression that the United
states government was about To pur'
chase large quantities Of radium IRON
aLroad. Assuming that the New
York city physician" would have
plentiful supply, TN" writer aske'
that some he sent 10 him c. o. d
without delaying to advise him as L
the cost
Under the term "canccr' are com
monty grouped several diseases wh'cl
offer widely in nature, causation. an'
courses. and i'm their response to ra
dunn. II requires both skill and cN
periencc to determine just what TYP
of cancer one has to deal with as wei
as the ACCESSIBILITY OF using radIuh'
Hence, il is extremely difficult to Tor
mulatc an accurate statement OF TN
true position Of rndium thcrapN' ou
il rs quite clear that the exploitation
of this remedy as cure 81 cancer u
general is to be deprecated.