Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-10-26
SCIENCE HAS GREATER
KNOWLEDGE OF CANCER


/ Madison-That oY4. practical know
! ledge OF how to prevent an individual
/ from dying of cancer is thoroughly
satisfactory in mary types of disease
! is statement made by the State
Board of Health recently.
IF all of the people had knowledge
| Of the few facts we are endeavoring
to give them, the number of deaths
from cancer would be decreasing in
stead of increasing as it is now" the
board says. "Thc cure of cancer at
the present time is not only possible
by the education of the people Of the
state to the signs of its beginning in
a purely local lesion and the import
ance of an immediate examination
which will lead to recognition and
treatment in the most favorable stage
for cure, for after the disease
reaches a certain stage it is incurable
end Invariably fatal"
The outstanding facts that every
one should know, says the board, are
as follows: Cancer always begins in
a single spot and N that spot there is
always first something that is not
cancer. There is always an interval
between the first warnings and the
lopment of cancer. There is always
an interval between the development
of cancer and its spread from that
spot. In a few instances the interval
may be only few weeks, in others
months, in some, years. No one can
tell this interval.
Cancer is not Il constitutional or
blood disease" There should be no
thought of disgrace or hereditary
faint" about it.
Cancer is not a communicable dis
ease. It is impOss BILE to catch cancer
from one who has it.
Cancer is not Inherited. Cancer is
so frequent that simply by the law OF
chance there may be many cases in
some families.
The beginning of cancer is usually
painless. For this reason its onset
is frequently overlooked and too cas-
lily neglected.
Every persisting lump in the breast
is a warning sign. All such Jumps are
by no means cancer, but even innocent
tumors of the breast may turn into
cancers if neglected.
In women continued unusual dis
charge or bleeding requires the i'm
mediate service of a competent doctor.
The normal change Of life is not &C
companied by increased flow which is
always suspicious. The return or the
flowing after it has once stopped
should be considered suspicious.
Any sore that does not heal, partic-
ularly about the mouth, lips or tongue
is a danger signal. Picking and irri-
tating such sores. cracks, alterations,
cly
! by home remedies, pastes, poultices,
caustics, etc, is playing with fire.
Warty growths, moles, or other birth
marks, especially those subject to con-
slant irritation, should be attended to
! Immediately if they change in color or
| appearance, or start to grow. Avoid
ance of chronic irritation and remov-
al of Just such seemingly insignificant
spots may prevent cancer.
Persistent indigestion in middle life
with loss of weight and change OF
/ color or with pain, vomiting, or dlar-
rhea, call for thorough and competent
medical advice as to the possibility OF
internal cancer.
"Do not expect the examiner to tell
you what the matter is" concludes
the statement Of the Board of Health
without making g careful physical
examination"
Open warfare by open discussion
will mean the prevention of many
needless deaths from cancer. The
common belief that cancer is a hope
less malady is partly due to the fact
that cases of successful treatment are
frequently concealed by the patient
and his family, while cases of failure
(too often resulting from delay are
apt to become common knowledge.