Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1914-01-02
RADiUM TREATMENT
OF CANCER
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The American Society for the Cou-
troll oi 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 in the daily press. u appears
highly important ut the present Time
that the limitations 81 radium iu th
control uf cancer should %" Umphu
sized as well as VS. favorable effects
? lu certain eases. otherwise the fac
Imiliar STORY Of How hopes, destined
Iunly Co disappointment, wlll nrstn De
recorded at the expense of many un-
fortunate sufferers.
/ The curative effects of rudium arc
practically limited today Go Hupcfiicbd
loancors uf the skin, to superficial
Igrowths of mucous membrane which
iare not true cancers and tu some
deeper WINS tumofs Of bono etc.
(which are not very malignant Tho
problem OF the constitutional treat
Imont of advanced. iuopcrablc cancer
.is stiil untouched hy any method vei
devised or likely to bee devised fur
administering rndlum. Even among
the sn-callcd rndium cures 10 still re-
.malns io d. determined lee many cases
whether the favorable result o. prr-
mnucut or is Go bc followed sooner 90
later hy the usual recurrence. the
mos, competent surgeons do not dur"
Go pronounce ease cured until i've
years have elapsed after ou appar-
entity successful operation Tho same
test must bc applied before Vo can
FINALLY determine the rcal value 81
lIadmm,
" should Doe emphasized Cspcl tally
lthHt radium can not ut present exert
Ian, permanent benefit ON gcnerali2cd
lcanccr aud since cancer in very
large proportion of Cascs. BE- Wld'}
disseminated leo the body carb in the
course nf the disease. this entire
group of eases can expect no import
liant relief from rudium Another lars
group 81 cancers Isl comparatively in
accessible Go the application of radium
80 that the ultimate course at the
'dlscasc D. not effected, although GER
tain portions at the tumurs may h'
reduced iu mEo Again mnny forms
Tot cancer. although localized and uc
,ssiblc GO radium grow very rapidly
land resist the curatiy, action ul thi,
lapout ~ that uo real benefit can ht
IrNpcctcd from les use.
The best results of radium ,hcr1pN
lean hc secured only when compuru.
. lively large amounts are available foI
use and the present limited World''
lsupply nf this metal places t out OF
lreach uf the great majority 90 pa
. ltients. II is to Doe feared that much
harm mnv result from undue rcliauct
Z upon small quantities OF low Grade
. lradium when other methods of treat
mont would be more effective.
Evidence ~ the possible eNteut OF
: lpopulnr miscon,eptlou on this subject
! Is found In pathetic letter recentlN
received &c the New York health de-
, .mr,mcni from O. sufferer Zoo California
lwho had somehow obtained the i'm
'prsssiun that the United states Eov
b 'erumtut was about Go purchase large
quantities of radium from abroad As
Q suming that the "New York clty ply.
stefan" would have plentiful sup
lply. the writer asked that some I'd
/ son. tn him g. o. D. without dclayln.
Ito udyIsr him as 90 the cost
Under the term cancer" are com
.nonly grouped several diseases whlci
Idlffrr widely u nature causatiun ant
IL, lcoursss. and in thoir response 9" rf
ldmm % requires both skin and eN
Iporicnco 90 determine just what ty"
4, lot cancer enc has Co deal with us wei
h aa tho advimbility N using rndlum
b. ltouce. o. .s extremely difOculi Go for
h mulato IAN accurate statement oi th'
T. true position of radium thcrapy. bu
4 q 81 quite clear that the exploitation
lof This remedy as "a cure uf cancer IN
general " Go Doe deprecated.