The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-11-10
Protection From Cancer
Letter No. III


thing else; lump, a wart, mole,
an ulcer, q bruise. g burn-some~
thing that, in itself is harmless
enough. How such things turn into
cancer is not known, but that they
do il abundantly proved. The aim
o. the cancer education is to cause
the public to take notice OF such pre-
cancerous warnings. If they are
treated in time, then all danger of
cancer is disposed OF. If they are
neglected, there is always the chance
thai they will suddenly turn ma
lignant, and bring about condition
that even the most desperate surgery
cannot remedy. Cancer is not in
heritcd. 1t is not blood disease. 1t
is not contagious. A patient with
cancer is no more dangerous to those
around him than a patient with
broken arm. Just why and how a
cancer starts no one knows accurate
ly, but g great deal is known about
its progress after it has started. 1t
spreads from the site Of its beginning
destroying the healthy tissues Of the
body as it goes. 1t sends forth llv-
ing cells which start other cancers i'll
other parts of the body. 1t gradual
ly reduces its victim to such condi-
ton that nothing whatever can be
done for him; save palliative
measures to relieve his agony. He
is hopelessly i'll, and will certainly
die. But this is only after cancer
has become fully developed. In its
early stages there were plenty OF
chances to cure the patient. Ihe
best of these chances were at the very
start, before tho lump, the pre-can-
cerous wart, OIL ulcer or bruise had
become genuine cancer. But there
were still good chances after it had
become a cancer, but before 1T had
begun to spread. Once that spread
ing had begun. the patients outlook
began to be dark. Slowly the odds
against him mounted up until they
were beyond a hundred to one. But
at tho start the odds in favor OF him
were even greater.
Tho precancerous lesion - the
lump, the wart, or ulcer, or unheal-
cd bruise or burn-behaves different
IL in different cases. Sometimes it
remains indefinitely, and the patient
w
other than cancer. Sometimes can
Ger develops within few weeks
Sometimes it takes years. But the
pre-cancerous lesion is always men
acing-it is always a sword suspend
ed over the patients head.He shoulo
get rid of it while there is yet plenty
of time, for once it is gone no cancer
will develop where it was. A goou
doctor will be able to decide what 1t
is. and how dangerous 1t Is; no lay
man can hope to do SO without grave
risk OF fatal error. Ii 1t Is OF the
dangerous variety, simple ana pam
les9 treatment will usually dispose OF
~ II 1t is neglected and a cancer
appears. then only the most ardlcal
treatment can cope with IL. Ana III
its later stages not even the most APP
palling operation con do more imam
profong the patient, life. pre-
cancerous lesion is always curaD!e'
An early cancer is usually curaple.
Rnt a late cancer is usually absolute
~ hopeless,
Tse records of every hospital show
how steady INC patient 5 rfTSrh0 g VI
recovery decline. In some Varletles
of cancers, in tho early stages near
w every patient who submits to pro-
ner treatment gets well, and the ma
iority of them stay well. But as
each successive stage is reached the
percentage OF recoveries rams anu L.
ward the last stage it suddenly lalis
tn zero. This last stage comes "hel,
the original cancer begins 10 sehu
ont colonies. These colonies start
other cancers elsewhere-usually IN
the internal organs. beyond. the
reach of operation. The patient
starting with one cancer, no" mas
MANY cancers, and it is quite nope
less to try to remove them. All tha'
can be done for him is to try to re-
lieye some of the terrible sunerlhS
of his last days.
Nc one knows precisely what caus-
es a cancer. or what it Is. but Tue
enormous study that has been gwen
to the problem in late years mas d.
least shown surgeons how to deal
with il. and so the struggle agalnst
| the disease begins to be hopeful. II
can he cured-if taken in time. But
the time to take it is before 1t mas
definitely developed-in the stage OF
warning A coming cancer almost
always gives warning beforehand
The patient is conscious that there i
something wrong. A lump IL let
there is a growth on his lip, or d
sore spot on his tongue or pam III
ono of his Joints or bones, or hurt
or a mole somewhere on his skin, or
a hurn of a bruise that won't heal, or
he feels discomfort in his stomach or
abdomen. If woman, the pauenI
notices a lump in the breast that Il
unnatural. This is the time TO seek
competent advice. Nine times ou'
of ten it will turn out that there Is
no danger of cancer-that slllple
treatment will suffice to remove the
danger signal. And even II cancer
is threatened the treatment at tnlS
early stage is simple and painless
and tho euro is certain. But every
DAYS delay means graVer danger,
When the cancer is fully developed
only tho most radical treatment can
do any good, and even this Is usual
ly unavailing.
But there is no reason why the
great majority OF cancer victims
should ever get into this last stage.
The proof that early treatment mlght
have saved them il now overwhelm-
ing. II laymen will only heed tnat
prooi-it they will seek competent
advice about tho signs that go be
before cancer-then the present hlgh
death-rate from the disease will be
greatly reduced, and the world Will
bo saved much intolerable suffering
Tho cancer situation is anything bur
&c