The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-27
CANCER ON THE INCREASE
Scourge of Civilization Claims
10000 Persons in Year in United
States-Beware of Irritations.

| For some time surgeons have been
! ready to admit that they had gone
] their limit in the surgical treatment
| of cancer. The feeling grew among
| investigators that with the present
! surgical methods, 10 further advances
were likely until 81 me radical advance
| took place in our knowledge of can
| GERS.
| Just when this apparent stop was
reached, workers ir x-ray and radium
| came forward with reports of cures
| in apparently hopeless cases. Some of
their claims were received with in
credulity. but they have proved up.
And it is now admitted that these
mysterious emanationS actually do
| cause absorption of parasitic growths.
| Either alone or in conjunction with
surgery they are giving greatly in
creased hopes of cure to those af-
flicted with cancer
x-ray and radium treatment has
now become routine practice in treat
ment of malignant and semi-malig-
nant growths.
Cancer remains one of the scourges
of civilization. Among primitive peo-
pie it is comparatively rare. The
death rate from tuberculosis has been
cut in two in IS years One by one
other plaques have been brought un-
der control. But cancer seems on the
increase both actually and relatively.
people afflicted with it and of these
over 10000 will de during the year.
During the six months ending De-
cember 81, 1920. in New York City,
1851 died of cancer more than died
of tuberculosis OF all people, over 40
years old, one in ten will die of cancer.
Cancer is popular name given to
malignant tumor-one that tends to
destroy life. Some tumors are harm
less. The body is an aggregate
of a large number of organs, each
composed of microscopic cells, which
vary in appearance and function. A
cancer is an unrestrained growth
of cells-cells growing wild. The
growth is ae first local and curable;
later it spreads and forms daugh-
ter tumors. This is the incurable
stage. The cause OF this wild growth
of cells is unknown; this is the riddle
OF the cancer.
OF great Importance IN prevention
is the discovery that many cancers
follow local irritation. For instance,
cancers of the lips and other mouth
regions often come from such 1rrita-
tons as are caused by snags of old
teeth, ilI-rtting bridges and crowns.
smoking hot jagged-edged pipes. One
authority blames many cancers Of the
mouth and stomach on eating hot
food. Another says that eating meat
or too much salt causes cancers. "
rays are very irritating and regularly
some x-ray worker dies Of cancer from
this cause. Certain trades, where men
are subjected to irritating substances.
number many cancer victims among
the workers.
These causes may account for GER
tain number of cancers but the pri-
mary cause of cancer is still a mys-
terry.
Contrary to general belief cancers
are not conta gious Many a surgeon
in his zeal has buried fragments of the
most malignant cancer into his own
flesh, but invariably they fail to grow.
This is one of the difficulties OF can
Ger research; It seems impossible to
transplant them into animals. Altho
there is a strain of Norwegian mice in
which transplants are successful in
small percentage of tries But even
| in these the tumorj do not seem to
follow the same biological laws as in
humans.
At one time cancers were supposed
points this way from seeming fire.
quency of cancers in certain families.
A notorious historical example is the
Bonapart family, OF whom, Napoleon,
his father and brother and two sisters
all died of cancer. In spite Of a num-
Der of such isolated cases scientists
are agreed that cancer is not heredi-
tary.
AS IN so many diseases prevention is
better than cure. Any irritation that
might lead to cancer should be elm
| mated. 4 growth once started early
diagnosis and treatment is the only
hope.
Any man or woman. in or past mid
die age. on the first appearance of
any tumor, lump, or ulcer or sore that
fails to heal. promptly. should see the
family doctor. And this phyaicianN