South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-16
YOUR HEALTH
You Should Not Neglect Any
Sort Of Obstinate Sore.
By ROYAL S. CoPELAND, NJ. d.

BY ROYAL S. COPELAND, NJ. ID.
Commissioner Of Health. New York
Perhaps the most dreaded OF al
diseases Is cancer. So many deaths
take place from this cause and the
degree OF suffering Is so great that
naturally IL is much feared.
IL is an unfortunate fact that al
most universally the belief Is held
that cancer is incurable. Further
more. the fear OF the knife has
caused many a victim OF the disease
20 hide his afflicuon until IL Is too
late.
As a matter OF fact. early will re
suit IN the removal OF most cancers
and there are means OF cure besides
the knife.
Cancer OF the skin Is a form Of
cancer particularly susceptible OF
complete removal and cure. Early
treatment Is almost Invariably sue
cessful.
Just why cancer comes Is difficult
to explain. Very likely some germ
is responsible. But. even though
there is more or less mystery sur
rounding the origin OF this disease,
there are many facts regarding its
development that we understand.
Some sort Of irritation forms and
excites the growth.
Hard to Determine.
The line OF union between skin
and mucous membrane IS especially
susceptible to canceroUs develop
= s@aFn.-
stantly irritated and cancer may
follow.
For instance, a man smokes a
short-stemmed clay pipe. always
holding it at one corner OF the
mouth. Pretty soon a little sore ap-
pears at the edge OF the lip. A
crust forms and drops off. and each
time this happens the sore grows
larger. This is very likely TO be
malignant.
The face is often the seat Of skin
/ cancer. This is probably because
the skin of the face is affected by
I exposure.
The irritating effects of wind and
sun and rain predispose to cancer.
What may appear at first to be a
simple wart may become irritated
and develop into cancer. This spot
/ bleeds easily, finally begins to ulcer
ate, and its true nature becomes ap-
parent.
/ This condition appears usually af-
ter the age Of 40. Men are more
liable than women. and heredity
may possibly have its influence.
/ Personally, 1 doubt if heredity is of
great consequence.
A skin cancer may attack the lips,
/ the angles of the eyelids. the edges
and sides of the nose and sometimes
| the ears. The trouble may be
found on the hands, the back, and
indeed. may involve the skin any
where.
Chances Are Bright.
1t is difficult to tell a skin cancer
from a wart or mole. In persons
past 40 a wart or mole increasing
in size must be viewed with sus-
picion.
When 1t has been determined that
the trouble is malignant, then it
must be decided what TO do for it,
The most common treatment is ex-
cisiOn by the knife. Surgical skill
/ has so developed that this can be
done without an unsightly scar.
Plastic surgery" as it is called, has
/ become a finished art.
The X-ray and particularly ra-
dunn have done wonders in thous-
ands Of cases. OF course, they must
/ be applied by trained workers. but
the result OF the treatments justify
the trouble and expense.
Never neglect an obstinate sore of
any sort. If it does not heal YOU
need the advice Of your doctor. With
this advice the chances are exceed
inglv bright for full recovery.
Copyright, 1921. by Newspaper
Feature Service, Inc.