Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-06-05
CANCER A PUZZLE
In Many of Its Phases 1t Battles
Medical Science.
ITS CAUSES ARE NOT KNOWN.
Neither ls II Revealed Whether the
Disease Is Hereditary or Not-In Its
First Stage It 10 curable-How tho
Malignant Growths Spread.


First Stage It Is curable-How the
Malignant Growths Spread.
1.-The word Cancer" says Worlds
Work, though it figures largely in
popular speech, is used with less and
less frequency in medical literature.
There is probably no word comprehen.
sive enough to include all the kinds of
abnormal growths to which the human
frame is subject. Cancer is merely
one shape in which this tendency TO
malformatiOn manifests itself.
"The human body in its ideal condi.
ton is symmetrical product. 1t con-
sists of a multitude of parts, each de
veloping not only with reference to it.
self, but in perfect harmony with the
rest OF the organism. A subtle infu.
ence, known rs the power of organiZa-
ton, regulates this highly important
matter. An arm, a leg, a nose, chin
any organ or member which one cares
to name-does not develop independ-
emily, but preserves important rela-.
tions with the rest of the body. Our
four fingers and thumbs have constant
ly in mind the rights Of one another
When one reaches certain size 1t
does not keep on growing. but stops.
If it still went on single finger would
reach length of several feet in life
time.
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 mi
mute groups of rebellious cells, small
colonies which for some reason ignore
this law of development and start on
an Independent existence of their own
They serve no physiological purpose.
When harmless, as they frequently
are, they are merely inconvenient
blemishes. When dangerous they end
by destroying life.
mild manifestations of this lawless
tendency 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 gen.
eral class of tumors known as be-
nign. They are benign simply because
after developing sluggishly to a certain
point their growth is mysteriously ar
rested Between benign tumors and
the most malignant cancers there is
only this difference: 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 :
)f reasons, it kills the patient. In some .
cases benign growth which has re- .
nained quiescent for years suddenly a.
develops new vitality and becomes .
There are those who main .
ain, though the occurrence is certain .
v rare, that harmless wart may .
sometimes develop into a genuine can !
,er The point to be brought in mind .
S that all these abnormal growths are .
'elated: that the only thing that makes .
me malignant and another not is this .
endency to keep growing. !
"A genuine cancer in its final stages
las another development. 1t no long
r confines it's activity to the original :
eat, but starts new cancers in other
'arts of the body. Certain groups Of
ancer cells break away from the pri-
nary headquarters, escape into the
Hood stream and start new growths
lsewhere This is the phenomenon
nown as 'generalized cancer.
Millions of dollars have been devoted
} the study of cancer and its cure, and
very known scientist is wide awake to
he study of the disease and to grasp
old of anything that may indicate
ossibility of its alleviation. The
oints upon which the authorities on
lncer in this country agree, says the
ew York World, are as follows:
First-Cancer in its first stage is
zeal and is durable.
Second.-The causes of cancer are not
nown.
Third.-It is not known whether or
Of cancer is hereditary.
is absolutely no cure
II cancer except to cut it out.
Fifth.-Go TO a physician at the first
gn of trouble. Preferably, be exam
ed by a physician at frequent inter
lis anyhow.
Sixth.-The idea that cancer in plants
ay give rise to cancer in man is fan
site. Tumors are not contagious.
does not perma-
emily cure internal cancer. 1t may y
leck the growth for awhile, but SOON =
or later it comes back. Popular be-
# in radium is based on the fact that 1.
lily the occasional cures are heard
om-not the failures. The failures Z
Itnumber the cures 100 to /.