The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-16
DELAY m CANCER.


In the present state Of knowledge
the chief hope of reducing the cancer
death-rate Is found In early recogni-
tion Of the disease followed by prompt
and competent surgical treatment
Thousands OF lives now needlessly sac
rificed could be saved II the average
cancer patient would go to the sur
geon as promptly as does the average
person attacked by appendicitis. Nor
Is there any reason why the cancer
patient should NOT seek this. the only
safe treatment, with the same high
degree OF confidence in the outcome
that is now common among those suf-
fering from the latter disease.
Unfortunately. as the Journal of the
American Medical Association says.
the evidence il only too clear that a
different attitude toward cancer pre-
walls and occasions many preventable
deaths. The almost superstitious
dread Of the disease and unwillingness
to admit its existence or to seek medi-
cal advice in time are well-known
and difficult obstacles to progress in
its control. Proof of this fatal neglect
is found In the experience Of q New
York surgeon who recently studied his
case records in order to obtain definite
Information as to the delay in the av-
erage case. among his last 1000 pa
tients there were Sc cases of cancer.
OF these IS had never been operated
on. and came 10 him as new cases.
OF the IS patie- Its. IS were men and
80 were women. Further study OF
these 65 cases showed that after the
first suspicious symptoms the men had
waited an average OF 1922 months be-
fore consulting the surgeon, and the
women had aited 11.9 months; prac-
tically a years delay in all cases. An
other well-known surgeon in a recent
public address confirmed this estimate
from his own experience. Winter Of
Koenigsberg, Prussia, the pioneer in
the education of the public in regard
to cancer, analysed the records Of
1862 operable cases and showed that
81 per cent of these patients could and
should have applied for treatment
much earlier. when they would have
had a far higher chance Of recovery
than was actually the case.
To the delay after the symptoms are
manifest must be added the indefinite
time after the beginning Of the dis
ease before the patient recognizes the
trouble. This period can be shortened
by education. Fortunately the symp-
toms Of cancer are present quite early
and can usually be recognized II the
patient understands their Importance.
In too many instances. however, the
disease is not suspected until the
symptoms are pronounced or until
there is q tumor Of considerable size.
If we assume that this period averages
six months. Ind then add the years
delay for which the patient is respon-
sible. we find that the average patient
does not seek advice until at least q
year and a half after the onset Of can
Ger. This precious time thrown away
means, If not a fatal outcome, at least
a serious instead of a minor. operation.
Science has not yet found the cause of
cancer. 1t is not known how it Is
contracted or how 1t is transmitted
from one patient to another We do
not know how to prevent it. Some
day we will know. Meanwhile, cancer
is increasing rapidly. The best advice
and the only advice that can be given
to the public, with our present knowl-
edge. is. to have every suspicious sore
or lump removed and removed early.