Evening journal., 1914-07-17
FRIDAY JULY II, 1914
CANCER Am QUICK ACTION.


- ANGER has claimed so many victims in Delaware
- and elsewhere that anything of authentic
nature bearing upon it and the great fight that the
human family is making TO it is OF general
public interest In the editorial columns of the Jour
nal Of the American Medical Association find
earnest appeal for quick action by all patients who
have cancer, or who suspect they have IT, As
that journal is read by only few laymen, and we
have here in our State and the surrounding terri
tory hundreds Of men and who have
predisposed to II, deem II wise to give TO
all readers the warning benefit Of that appeal
The great medical paper above referred to says that
In the present state of knowledge the chief hope of
reducing the deathrate is found in early
milton Of the disease followed by prompt and com
petent surgical treatment Thousands OF lives
needlessly sacrificed could be saved If the average
patient would go TO the surgeon promptly
does the average person attacked by appendicitis
Nor there any why the patient should
seek this. the only safe treatment with the
high degree OF confidence in the outcome that is
among those suffering from the latter dis
case. Unfortunately, the evidence is only too clear
that different attitude toward cancer prevails and
occasions many preventable deaths The almost super
stitous dread Of the disease and unwillingness TO
admit It's existence to seek medical advice in time
'iis control.
Proof OF this fatal neglect is found in the experl-
ence OF New York surgeon who recently studied his
as to the delay in the average case Among his last
two thousand patients there Sc Of
Sixty-fve Of these had been operated and
came 10 him as ones OF the 65 patients, 35
and women. Further study of these 65
showed that after the first discovery Of tumor,
or after the first suspicious symptoms the had
waited of 1879 months before consulting the
surgeon, and the women had waited II months;
Hcally years delay in all Another we'll
known surgeon in recent public address confirmed
this estimate from his experience.
Winter. of Koenigsberg Prussia. the pioneer in the
education Of the public in regard 70 analysed
the records of 1.062 operahle and showed that
81 per cent Of these patients could and should have
applied for treatment much earlier, when they would
have had far higher chance OF recovery than was
actually the
To the delay after the symptoms manifest must
be added the indefinite time after the beginning OF tho
disease before the patient recognizes the trouble This
period be shortened by education Fortunately the
symptoms of cancer present quite early and can
usually be recognized II the patient understands their
importance. In many instances. however. the dis
is not suspected until the symptoms pro
nounced until there is tumor of considerable size
n assume that this period averages six months
and then add the years delay which the patient Ii
responsible we find that the average patient
advice until at least year and a-half after th
onset of cancer This precious time thrown away
means II not a fatal outcome at least a serious in
stead Of minor operation
Science has not yet found the Of cancer
It is not known how it is contracted or how it 1
transmitted from patient to another We do no
know how 10 prevent It. Some day will know
Meanwhile, cancer is increasing rapidly The bes
advice and the only advice that be given TO th
public with our present knowledge is TO have ever,
suspicious sore or lump removed and removed early