Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-04
National Fight
Against Cancer

Death BY cancer claims $4,000 people
every year In the United States. The
scourHe u steadily Increasing, says
Graham r. Taylor In the Survey. But
hope for its control u growing. for We
are coming more widely TO understand
that the disease IL durable II treated
in early stageA This knowledge With
reference to Tuberculosis started the
great campaign against the white
plague Similarly nation wide fight
against cancer II being orsanized BY
the recently formed American Society
For the Control Of Cancer.
In spite Of premature enthusiasm
over radium and the consctencsless
statements Of quacks tho surgeons
knife - the only known cure. Prompt
diagnosis and an immediate thorough
operation offer . high probability Of
saving the patients life. while delay
and neglect mean certain and terrible
death. To spread this simple gospel
to every corner Of tho land tho society
IL beginning an active campaign Of
publicity and education.
Only Tuberculosis and pneumonia
claim greater number Of victims an
nually than cancer. For the decade
ending With 1911 the cancer death rate
has increased from 66.0 per 10000 Of
the population in 1901 to $40 in 1911
A Destroyer of Homes.
From tho social standpoint It II Of
peculiar interest to note that cancer
10 distinctly disease Of adult life.
Deaths from cancer make up one-six-
teenth Of the mortality from all causes
at the ages Of forty-fve and over. This
means that cancer directs it, terrific
onslaught largely against mothers and
fathers Of families.
Cancer u not at first . general dis
ease Of the blood. and despair and sur
render in face Of the disease 10 not
warranted We now known that can
Ger 10 always at nrst q local disease
which can often be completely removed
BY adequate surgery. The knife IL the
only known sure remedy. and the ter
rible scourgs gives its victim only one
chance. Delay means not simply dan
ger. but Inevitable death. And again
the result of a delayed or incomplete
operation IL almost always fatal
Radium IL considered BY enthusiasts
to promise curative agency Of I'M
matched 5sSeacence e mankind, hut
We must know much moro than We do
now Of its effects before We can abato
in the slightest the urgent emphasis ON
surgical treatment We have not yet
been able in this country to make IN
authoritive determination of its value
Few American surgeons have sufficient
radium available to give q thorough
trial. especially - it appears that ex-
tensive doses sometimes cure when
smaller amounts have but little effect.
Only time will tell what percentage
Of cases can be cured With radium.
and In the meantime the Society For
the Control Of Cancer warns tho pub
lie that early surgical treatment az.
fords the best chance for cure Of can.
Ger.
Methods 10 es Employed.
To meet the need Of . dennite spe-
cial agency TO light tho battle Of soci-
ETY. against this disease the American
Society For the Control Of Cancer has
been formed Patterned somewhat
after the National Association For the
Study and Prevention Of Tuberculosis,
yet recognizing an entirely different
problem and planning different meth.
DDS. tho organization aims to establish
10 clearing house Of Information on
cancer and to become the channel
through which authoritative state
ments will be made to the public.
One Of the 6rst objects will bo to
obtain the keeping Of systematic and
Uniform records Of cancer cases In
hospitals and dispensaries to provide
the basis for moro detailed and posi-
tive deductions as to the value Of
surgical treatment in different mani
festations and stages Of the disease.
When by this method and by the col
lection and study Of statistics from an
available sources new light Is thrown
on the cancer question the findings
will be spread abroad through all avail
able channels.
White Aouse Functions For the Season,