The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-13
WHAT CANCER. Is.

AAS "OA0 NeSASSAB tAO06A ~ A1S
ures largely in popular speech, is used
ical literature. says the Worlds Work.
hensive enough to include all the kinds
OF abnormal growths to which the hui
man frame is subject. Cancer is
merely one shape in which this ten
dency to malformation manifests
itself. The human body, in its ideal
condition, is a symmetrical product. It
consists of multitude Of parts. each
developing, not only with reference to
itself, but in perfect harmony with
the rest Of the organism. A subtle in
fluence. known as the power Of or
ganization, regulates this highly i'm
portant matter. An arm, leg, a nose,
a chin-any organ or member which
one cares to name-does not develop
independently, but preserves impor-
tant relations with the rest Of the
body. Our four fingers and thumbs
have constantly in mind the rights Of
one another; when one reaches q Ger
tan size, it does not keep on growing,
but stops; II it still went on, a single
finger would reach a length of several
eeet in a lifetime.
Any observant person, however. is
aware that this law Is constantly vio-
lated. On almost any part of the body
little Independent growths start into
existence. These are composed Of
minute groups OF rebellious cells:
small colonies which. for some reason,
ignore this law Of development and
start on an independent existence Of
fhafr Thou III
ical purpose; when harmless, as they
frequently are. they are merely in
convenient blemishes: when danger
GUS they end by destroying life. Mild
manifestations of this lawless ten
dency are the queer formations COM
monty known as warts and moles
There are other more noteworthy pro-
tuberances, such as .'wens," that grow
inexplicably, frequently upon the
scalp, reach a certain size, and then
stop. This latter growth belongs to
the general class Of tumors known as
benign" They are benign simply be-
cause, after developing sluggishly to a
certain point, their growth is mys-
teriously arrested. Between benign
tumors and the most malignant can
GERS there Is only this differences: that
the latter have the power Of unlimited
growth. The true cancer, once started
on its riotous career, keeps on and
digs deep into healthy surrounding
tissue and destroys it, until finally. for
a variety Of reasons, it kills the pa
tient. In some cases a benign growth
which has remained Quiescent for
years suddenly develops a new vitality
and becomes malignant. There are
those who maintain, though the &C.
currence is certainly rare, that a
harmless wart may sometimes de-
velop into q genuine cancer. The
point to be brought in mind is that
all these abnormal growths are re-
lated: that the only thing that makes
one malignant and another not is this
tendency to keep growing. A genu-
inc cancer, in its final stages, has
another development: it no longer
confines its activity to the original
seat. but starts new cancers in other
parts Of the body. Certain groups of
cancer cells break away from the pri-
mary headquarters. escape into the
blood stream. and start new growths
elsewhere This is the phenomenon
known as "generalized cancer" This
condition is important in any discus
sion of radium. 1t may as well be
said here that radium has no favor
able effect upon cancer which has
reached this ''generalized'' stage.
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