Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-08-10
PRECAUTIONS.

RdIueu VIII SuSplSlOHI dHu u u PS'SiSNS
should be promptly shown 10 a physi-
clan. Perhaps the most important OF all
facts in the control OF cancer is that the
Jumps or harmless growths in which so
many cancers originate are not only pain
less while they are harmless, but they Of
ten remain painless during the early stages
OF change.
Cancer is very painful disease, but il
does not become painful until after il is
we'll established.
Not all painful Jumps are cancers any
inflamcd lump may be painful for time.
But lump or growth is moi safe because
il is painless.
One OF The best illustrations OF the fact
that cancer is likely 10 occur in places that
have long been subject 10 characterization
is found in cancer OF the lip. Smokers lip
is what il is often called. Not infrequent-
ly an excessive pipe smoker who always
holds his pipe in one corner OF his mouth
will notice slight wart on his lower lip
at the place where the stem OF the pipe
rests. II he disregards that wari, il is al
most certain 10 develop rapidly into
cancer OF the lip, which if neglected is
very fatal form OF the disease.
The appearance ofthe wart is undoubt-
edly owing 10 the continued irritation OF
the skin at the spot where the pipe rests,
more especially if the stem has rough
surface, such as that OF clay pipe,
which is regarded rs particularly likely TO
give rise 10 the disease.
II that man has the wah removed by a
small operation al the time when il ap-
pears, and if he does not continue TO use
the pipe, he is not likely 10 have further
trouble; in fact, he may confidently expect
to be permanently cured. But 1t he
neglects the wart until il has grown large
and prominent,-in short. until II is a
cancer,-the cancer cells will sooner or
later appear in his neck and travel down
into the centre OF his body and into the
space between his lungs, where The dis
ease, OF course, becomes absolutely in
durable. Yet a few months before the
little wart could have been easily removed.
Another illustration OF this is found in
cancer oithe cheeks and tongue. Every
one knows the common cankers in the
mouth, which we have all had at one
time or another and which are entirely
unmportani; but people often get little
persistent cankers OF apparently The same
character at spots either on the mouth or
tongue opposite a rough or ragged tooth.
II the tooth is attended TO. those sore
spots or cankers promptly disappear and
are OF no importance; but il an irritation
like that is allowed TO persist week after
week and month after month, il may give
rise TO cancer 1.-THE mouth or tongue.
In general any chronic and persistent
ulcer or irritation may in time give rise
10 the development OF a cancer, and all
such things should be disposed OF while
they are still merely ulcers or irritations
and before anything else has happened
to them.
ANY persistent abnormal discharge from
any OF the orifices of the body should al
ways be shown TO a physician, even il il
seems harmless. II that were always
promptly done and if the physician con-
suited were always equipped with all the
latest knowledge and methods OF explor-
alton, most cancers in such places would
be prevented, sometimes by mere treat
ment, and at worst by very small opera
tons undertaken merely TO restore the
organs to their normal condition.
Cancer OF the organs OF digestion
stomach, digestive glands and intestines-
is one OF the common forms, and is the
one that is to-day most difficult TO detect
while still in the curabIe stage. Many
would, however, be saved if the general
public understood that any long continued
chronic indigestion occurring in middle
age and associated with loss Of weight
and change OF color should be sufficient
reason for an early and careful examina-
ton. Every possible means-including
chemical analysis Of the secretion and the
use Of the x ray-shouId be used to de-
termine whether the conditions that pre-
cede cancer are present.
Many such chronic indigestions are OF
course no. cancer but if all such cases
were carefully scrutinized for the special
purpose OF excluding cancer, the number
OF cancers Of the digestive organs would
certainly be greatly decreased by the cure
OF many such cases while the disease is
still in the durable stage.
Everyone should remember that any
one of the things that have been spoken
OF does not mean that he has cancer
il may mean nothing Of any importance
at all; and in that case it is well to know
II. On the other hand, however, il may
mean that he has chronic condition thai
should be treated and cured while it is
nothing more.
Finally, the all-imponant fact is tha
cancer rarely, if ever, occurs in people
who are free from such little chronic con.
ditions. II all of them were promptly
brought to the attention of the doctoI
while they were nothing more. the grea
mortality of cancer that exists to-da,
would undoubtedly be reduced to yer,
small one.