Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-10-18
Free Cancer Treatment
BY Frederic J. Haskin

New York City, Oct. ls.-Ibe greatest
campaign against cancer ever undertaken
in this country will be opened by the state
Of New York this month.
Two grams of radiun have been pIr-
chased by the State through the Institute
for the Study Of Malignant Dtseases for
the sum Of &225, 900. 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 treatment Of any cancer patients
who apply. Any citizen OF the United
States is eligible for this treatment, but
preference will be gIven 10 those who are
residents Of New York State. Those seek
ing treatment must 60 70 Buhalo, as the
radi,irn cannot be distributed about the
country.
Although the amount Of radiurn seernz a
gnaIl one with which 10 offer free treat
ment 10 all the cancer sufferers Of great
State, it is said by experts 70 be really
quite adequate for the purpose. Radiurn,
although giving of a high degree Of
energy all the time, decreases in bulk 20
slowly that it loses only about 80 per cent
Of it's substance In 2, 600 years. An almost
inhnitesirnal quantity Of radium u SUI
ficient for the treatment of one cancer.
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 Il
which can be obtained. The radiun IL
usually applied in sort Of hollow glass
needle which ls thrust into the cancer, al
though in some cases a radium compress IL
applied.
VALUE or STATE CONTROL.
<or 81 c...x.. r. A. (tr-yfrcl
Of Cancer here, are especially pleased at
| this move on the part of the State because
IL is important that as much rsdIun az
possible should be placed in the hands Of
! the government agencies where anyone
| NAV obtain the benefit Of IL. IL s evident
| that radium offers excellent chances for
| commercial exploitation. II not protected
| by government control, radIum treat
| rnents might soon become too costly for all
| except the very wealthy, and il would not
/ be an impossible task TO corner the market
| on radiurn.
As it is today, treatment for cancer +
| available for almost anyone who lives ~
/ large city or can reach one. In New orb
CITY there are several hospitals which offer
| free treatment with radrurn and by othel
| means. The great merit Of this State cam
| uaipn is not only that it offers large odd
| flonal facilities for free treatment, ou'
| especially that IL is being widely adverts
/ ed. What cancer needs more than any
| thing else IS publicity An external cancer
say the authorities, can almost always bs
| cured if it ls diagnosed and treated IN IT
early stages, and an internal cancer car
| usually be cured under the same cIrcr1n
stances. The cure Of an internal oance
depends largely Of course, on its location.
The high mortality from cancer resnit
from the failure 70 recognize the drseas
and seek treatment for il while it rs IN y
early stages IL should be remembered II
the first place, that cancer IS q disease Q
middle and later life. Whenever pecf
liar swelling or tunsor appears IN persoi
past 35 years Of age, cancer should 3
suspected, and the advice Of . sp>rIaif
Immediately sought What usually har
pens Is that the swelling. which IS painless
is neglected by the patient for about 81
months, until It's size becomes alarming
and then it IS often too late for cure.
INTERNAL CANCERS WORSE.
Internal cancers are, Of course, even les
| likely 70 be observed IN the early stage
than external ones. Here again persons o
the cancerous age should seek an exper
/ diagnosis in case Of any functional dis
turbances which might be caused by can
Ger. Cancer of any part OF the stornact
which causes about 40 per cent OF 70
| deaths from cancer, or of any other part o
the digestive tract. causes loss OF weight