The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-28
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKIN. Director.
washington, d. C.
FREE CANCER TREATMENT.

QeEIakGn IN IIl4S COuIlIy VIII Oc
opened by the state of New York this
month.
Two grams of radium have been
purchased by the state thru the Insti-
tute, for the Study of Malignant Dis
eases for the sum of s225,O00. There
are only two or three hospitals in the
country which have this much radium.
1t is to be used at the hospital of the
institute in Buffalo for the free treat
ment of any cancer patients who APP
ply. Any citizen of the United States
is eligible for this treatment, but pref
erence will be given to those who are
residents of New York state. Those
seeking treatment must go to Buffalo.
as the radium cannot be distributed
about the country.
Altho the amount of radium seems
small one with which to offer free
treatment to all the cancer sufferers
of a great state, it is said by experts
to be really quite adequate for the pur-
pose Radium. altho giving off a high
degree of energy all the time, de-
creases in bulk so slowly that it loses
only about so per cent of its sub
stance in $500 years. An almost in
Gnitesfrnal quantity of radium is suf-
ficient for the treatment of one can
Ger. The doctors say that the number
of cases Which may be treated with
this two grams of radium is limited
only by the amount of apparatus for
applying it which can be obtained.
The radium is usually applied in a sort
of hollow glass needle which is thrust
into the cancer, altho in some cases
radium compress is applied.
Value of State Control.
Officials of the Society for the Con-
troll of Cancer here are especially
pleased at this move on the part OF
the state because it is important that
as much radium as possible should be
placed in the hands of government
agencies where anyone may obtain the
benefit of it. 1t is evident that radium
offers excellent chances for CONNER
ciaI exploitation. If not protected by
government control. radium treat
ments might soon become too costly
for all except the very wealthy, and it
would not be an impossible task to
corner the market on radium.
AS it is today, treatment for cancer
is available for almost anyone who
lives in a large city or can reach one:
In New York City there are several
hospitals which offer free treatment
with radium and by other means. The
great merit of this state campaign is
not only that it offers large additional
facilities for free treatment, but eSpe-
cially that it is being widely adver-
tised. What cancer needs more than
anything else is publicity. An external
cancer, say the authorities, can almost
always be cured if it is diagnosed and
treated in its early stages, and an in
ternal cancer can usually be cured I'M
der the same circumstances. The cure
of an internal cancer depends largely,
of course, on its location.
The high mortality from cancer re-
suits from the failure to recognize the
disease and seek treatment for it while
it is in is early stages. 1t should De
remembered in the first place, tnat
cancer is a disease of middle and later
life. Whenever a peculiar swelling OF
tumor appears in person past 80
years of age, cancer should be suspect
ed, and the advice of a specialist i'm
mediate1y sought. What usually hap
pens is that the swelling. which is
painless. is neglected by the patient
for about six months, until its size be-
comes alarming and then it is often
too late for a cure.
Internal Cancers Worse.
Internal cancers are of course even
less likely to be observed in the
early stages than external ones. Here
again persons of the cancerous age
should seek an expert diagnosis in
case of any functional disturbances
which might be caused by cancer.
Cancer of any part of the stomach,
which causes about 40 per cent OF the
deaths from cancer, or or any otner
part of the digestive tract, causes loss
Of weight. palIor and often distaste
for meat and for highly seasoned
foods. In case of an Indigestion &C
companied by these symptoms IN
person of cancerous age, cancer shouia
be suspected and an expert diagnosis
should be sought.
In this day when so much excellent
free medical treatment is offered,
there is no good excuse for not op-
tanning such a diagnosis. Yet many
persons fail to obtain either because
thew are ignorant that such facllltleS
exist, or because they are TOO prou1
to 'accept charity" Free medlcaI
treatment should not pc regarueu o.
charity, but as one of the rights when
a. taxpaying citizen enjoys. 1t is COM
ing more and more to be recognlzeu
that the health of an individual is an
asset to the state, even more than 70
himself, and that it is state duty 10
insure that health.
Officials of the Society for the CON-
troll of Cancer say that in New 1ork
Citv it is coming to be the mioole
classes composed of salaried workers,
and not the poor, VINO surfer Ill., 1r,s =
from lack of medical attentlon' tno
poor do not stand upon their prioe.
and early become used to aVa1nns
themselves of free medical advice
Thev are apt to go. to public clinlc
or bosoital of some Sort whenever they
are i'll. There they get medical treat
ment which is always competent anu
often as effective as money coulo puS'
False Pride Often Fatal.
The wealthy take good care OF
themselves, too, employing speclansts
at fancy prices. But the chap IN pc
tween. who cannot afford speclahsl
and who considers himself too gooo 10
90 to a free clinic, is the sufferer.
OFTEN he puts off seeking treatment
for an ailment because he cannot af-
ford it. until it is too late. Nothing
is more needed in the way OF sanitary
education than to teach this individual
to pocket his false pride. to learn OF
the medical facilities which his state or
his city places at his disposal, and to
avail himself of them whenever neces-
sary.
In New York City today one may
Ga ,cr,, r,ntar,t tr.aa t111ent by SneCial-