The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
National Fight Against Cancer
by GRAHAM RoMEYN TAYLOR

Death by cancer claims $4,000 peo-
pie every year in the United States.
The scourge is steadily increasing. But
hope for its control is growing, for we
are coming more widely to understand
that the disease is durable If treated
in the early stages. This knowledge
with reference to tuberculosis start
ed the great campaign against the
white plague. Similarity, a nation wide
fight against cancer is being organ
lied by the recently formed American
Society for the Control of Cancer.
In spite of premature enthusiasm
over radium and the conscienceless
statements of quacks, the surgeons
knife is 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 our land, the society
is beginning an active campaign OF
publicity and education.
The Cancer Death Rate
only tuberculosis and pneumonia
claim greater number of victims
annually than cancer. For the decade
ending with 1911 the cancer death rate
has increased from Co.'S per 100000 OF
the population in 1901 to S3.9 in 1911
With minor exceptions, the increase
has appeared at al 1age groups AMI
for both sexes. The estimate of 49,,
600 death for 1913 is made by so well
known statistician as Frederick L.
hoffman.
Cancer a Destroyer of Homes
From the social standpoint, 1t is of
peculiar interest to note that cancer
is distinctly a disease of adult life.
Deaths from cancer make up one-six-
teenth of the mortality from all causes
at the ages of As and over. This means
that cancer directs its terrific on
slaught largely against mothers and
fathers of families. A splendidly or
ganized campaign is being directed
against infant mortality, another OF
the great controllable causes of deaths.
The loss of a babys life Is of course
sorrow and too often doubly sad be-
cause it is preventab1e. 1t represents
also the loss of a potentially valuable
unit of society. But the immediate to-
tai of misery and suffering entailed
upon the community may well be con-
sidered greater when cancer removes,
often with terrible agony, the parent
who is the main source of support Of
a family.
Social Control of Cancer
Society then must organize it's de-
fenses against this terrible enemy as
it is so effectively doing in the case
of tuberculosis, typhoid fever and many
other diseases subject to administra-
tive control. The problem, however, is
somewhat different. When society
turns to medical science and asks the
cause of cancer and how to prevent
tho e tNNa q trx
learn but we do not yet know" la
the meantime, however, modern med
ical knowledge gives us one fact and
one warning of the utmost signifj-
canoe. Cancer cannot be cured but it
can be extirpated from the system by
an immediate recourse to skilled sur
gerry. The patients life can be saved
in almost every instance II the dis
ease is discovered early enough and Il
single thorough operation is at once
performed.
Surgery the Only Safety
Cancer Is not at first a general dis
ease Of the blood and despair and sur
render in face of the disease is not
warranted. We now know that cancer
is always at first local disease which
can often be completely removed by
adequate surgery. The knife is the
only known sure remedy and the ter
rible scourge gives its victim only one
chance. Delay means not simply dan
ger but inevitable death. And again
the result os a delayed or incomplete
tfnr fe .,Is 81 u4.