Omaha daily bee., 1914-05-31
CANCER CAN Be PREVENTED
knowledge Of the Disease Will Save
Needless Sacrifice ofLives.
SHOULD NOT DELAY THE CASE
Surgical Operation when First
Symptoms SHOW IN Generally
Affect a Cwre, According 60
Hospital Statistics.
nr cuRrIs ID. LAKnMAN.

ny CUNTS NJ La EmA ~
Executive secretary, American Society
for the Control OF Cancer
Exclusive service Survey Press Bureau)
Cancer can be prevented or cured and
the needless sacrifice OF thousands OF
lives can be stopped by educating the
public as to the facts about this disease.
The cause Of cancer is not understood.
but much Is known about the conditions
under which II develops. and VI is GER
tain that safety lies only in early recog-
milton Of the symptoms and prompt oper-
alton Rsdium Is useful in some cases.
but it is not to be relied upon as a sub
stituts for surgical treatment-the only
known sure cure.
This message OF the hope 10 be found
IN early and competent treatment should
be spread broadcast The need OF sup
plying the public with more and bet
ter knowledge about tho disease is
viyidly shown by Newspaper clipping
recently received at the office OF the
American Society for the Control OF
Cancer
sample of Dangerous Advice
woman wrote TO the inquiry column
Of the Newspaper in questions that
a lump on her breast had been growing
about a year. She said she had been
told that Kerosene rubbed on Il was
good for t." and had tried 1t without
result except to cause inflammation, and
so she was very much worried" The
answer published along with this letter
advised her to battle the spot thoroughly
and apply pad OF antiphiiogistisn." II Is
hard to say which aspect Of this case
gives tho greater slsock-that OF the
women. probably doomed TO prematur ore
death, because OF her ignorance or the
terrible responsibility OF the newspaper
which left her and perhaps other reasa-
ers to their fate by falling TO say tina.
every lump In a woman's breast should
at once be examined by a competent
surgeon.
The general state Of ignorance, delay
and neglect In regard TO the early signs
Of cancer 10 shown by actual statistics
which cannot be disputed The foremost
surgeon OF the world recently said in q
public address that people wait on the
average a whole year after discovering
some suspicious symptom before they
come TO the operating table. Another
surgeon studied his own records and those
OF six Of the largest New York hospitals
20 throw, light both on the frequency OF
cancer and the delay IN seeking treat
ment. Out OF 12345 surgical patients he
found 5i2 cases OF cancer, approximately
one In twenty-five, or 40 per cent. In
sixty-five cases Of first operation for can
Ger he found that after discovery OF a
tumor. or after the first Suspicious symp-
TOMS the thirty-five men had waited on
the average l22 months before consulting
the surgeon. and the thirty women an
average OF 1i9 months.
Delay Means Death.
In like manner Dr. Winter OF koeniRs-
berg. Prussia, the pioneer in the education
OF the public on cancer, analysed 1857
records OF operable cases and showed that
"a per cent OF these patients could and
should have come to treatment much
earlier. when their chances OF cure would
have been much higher than was actually
the case Delay Of year or even few
months makes all the difference between |
life and death.
II the American movement for public |
education IN regard To this disease needs |
the announcement OF a precedent. tits TO !
he found in the remarkable reduction Of
the cancer death rate through a campaign |
Of education conducted by Winter in
Koentgsberg. This campaign was de-
signed TO reach all people. particularly |
women. since they are more susceptible |
than men TO the disease. The public was
informed as to the first symptoms OF can
Ger and the surprising importance Of the
earliest possible surgical treatment. In
this campaign the cooperation OF the
laity and the medical profession, on the
one hand, and the press on the other.
was enlisted. The cancer death rate OF
Koenlgsberg had increased from fifty
three In 1880 TO 40 In 1898, and In 1907
reached a maximum OF 1S9 per 10000 OF
the population. The campaign OF educa-
ton then began to have its effect and
the rate gradually declined TO the point
OF lis for the year 1918. The decrease does
not seem large. but II is most important
when we remember that nearly every
where else the rate Is steadily increasing.
Even more specific proof OF the hope
which early operation gives Is TO be
found In the statistics OF operations per-
formed IN some Of the principal American
hospitals. These records have never been
studied as thoroughly as they will be
under the plan OF the American Society
for the Control OF Cancer. and there is
here a mine OF information full OF the
highest interest and significance to the
public
ChaHce of Care.
preliminary study OF the records kept
az the hospital and laboratories OF one
OF the largest American centers OF med
ical education shows clearly that the
chances OF permanent cure. II operation
be resorted TO promptly. are very high
Il shows equally clearly that these
chances decrease with every day OF de-
lay. And as a likelihood OF cure becomes
remote. the immediate danger and dam
sge OF the operation becomes greater.
That is TO say. new and small cancer
may be removed without much pain and
without much mutilation. but an old ami
dispersed cancer leaves a serious wound
behind A.
These records have already been ana
iyzed and tabuiated. for cancer OF the
lip. tongue and breast The statement
OF results takes account Of the condi-
tions said 10 precede actual cancer. such
as TOBACCO blisters white spots and
sore places about the teeth. While there
Is difference OF opinion as to the bearing
OF such conditions on the development
OF true cancer Il cannot be denied thst
in many eases they seem to cause the
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