The farmer and mechanic., 1915-10-05
CAMPAIGN AGAINST
CANCER IN MISSOURI


Ger, is the Department of Preva,,..,
Medicine OF the University ~ ~
souri,. This department. has tns,
sued a special bulletin calline ~.
tentlon to the campaign for ~
Ventlon of cancer carried on L-
american Society for the Contrc1
cancer, the American Medical a.
citation and other national ana -
organizations, and giving a srr,.', 80.
the cancer problem as a phase ~ ~
Ventlve medicine. The knoWledoa .,
skill or surgeons in the treatpoart ~.
cancer has progressed almost to -
limits Of what is possible. and -
percentage of cures by this. the orI'.
method of treatment which offers ~
| IlaDle nope OF cure, Is to be inrreases
the patients themselves NJ.
cooperate by seeking earlier diao,,o-:l
and treatment. On examining the re-
| tories Of large number of cas- :.
| has been found that the patie,t,
whom the surgeons failed to curs
were those who came to him late ~
| the disease, when the cancer ha4
spread to such an extent that to re
move All the cancer cells would have
required an operation so great tLat
in itself it would be sufficient -
cause the death of the patient. On
| the other hand, of another gropn -
cases which sought treatment soon
! after the cancer was noticed 100 nor
cent were cured. To increase the ner-
centage Of cases treated early. the uni-
VerSlty bulletin urges that Iavnen
learn the meaning Of cancer and it,
first warnings in order that they NAV
go to the surgeon while the cancer
is still in the early stages and the
chance for cure is high
1t is now generally recognized that
!, cancer begins at some spot where fr
ritation already exists. Among the
causes for the irritation are pigmented
moles, cracks on the lip, blsters
scabs and similar persisting abnormal
. conditions Of the skin. Probably only
a very small proportion of these con
: dluOnS become cancer, but when
! moles, for instance, are so located
; that they are subject to constant irrl-
: tation and when in later life they
change in color and appearance and
: begin to grow it is time to have them
}. attended to. Moles and warts should
never be treated with caustic but the
whole growth. together with its So
| ! called roots, should be removed When
a burn on the tongue or lip from
n smoking does not heal within a few
months it is source Of danger. Gem
:, orally speaking, the removal of such
!; irritated spots is trivial operation,
3 /
After true cancer has developed, it
is still possible to cure a large per-
: centage Of cases If the surgeon is
given a fair chance while the disease
: Is still local. All cases Of cancer are
ls local in the beginning and may res
Z main SO far a few weeks to several
q months. It is during this period that
q ity Of practically 100 per cent. Of
g cures. Unfortunately for the patient
e pain Is so rare at this stage OF the
&c disease and the conditions seem Sc
y trivial that In a great number OF cases
{ the opportunity to be saved is for
: feited by the delay. In cancer OF the
% breast. for instance, the case cured
y by the late operation amount to abou'
fe 80 per cent. but by an early opera
d ton at least 80 per cent. are saved. i
every woman who is not nursing woult
ac go to surgeon within twenty-foul
o1 hours after she finds lump in he
aS breast, 80 per cent. Of the cases O
m cancer Of the breast would be perna
a. nently cured.
E. Cancer Of the tongue is prehap
i the most malignant, and cures by IN
IN late operation are few in number
OF a small ulcer appears on the tongu
us consult a surgeon at once. When sue
IN an ulcer is produced by rage
ne tooth, consult a dentist first, and the
nt if the ulcer does not heal within
n short time after the cause has bee
,e. removed, it is a surgeons task.
tn The bulletin issues an ernphat
We warning against uuacks and the
or bogus testimonials, pointing out ths
or their method Of deception lies mann
nd in the diagnosis. There are so man
ed conditions closely resembling cance
dy that the average layman cannot dl'
m tinguish between them, and 1t IS %
at hind such conditions which are u
be cancer and which would tend 10 ne
It without treatment that the can g
is sneciaIists'' take their stand and mar
he their false claims.
al The Department Of Preventive Me-
le- icine will supply copies Of this cane
W bulletin, Medical Series No. g. on
lal quest to the University of Mlsso u
IN. Columbia, Mo-, as long as the SUPP
to lasts.