Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1921-11-11
CanGer Week.

A LARGELY attended meeting Of the ply
sicians of the county was held In the Court
House here last week in the interest of an
active campaign against that terrible dis
ease, Cancer. DR.. Jas. E. Deets. as chair
man. presided. The county papers were
asked to publish the following article on
the subject:
DR.. Jas. E. Deets, chairman; DR.. H. B.
Haddox Of Gaithersbure. DR.. U. D. Nourse
of Dawsonvlle. Dr. E. White Of Pooles-
vile. DR.. VIM. L. Lewis Of Kensineton. DR..
Eugene Jones of Kensineton. Dr.. G. W..
Boyer of Damascus. DR.. j. W. Bird of
Sandy Spring, DR.. Vernon Dyson of Lay
louisville, DR.. W. D. Milford of GAINESVILLE,
Dr.. B. C. Perry Of Bethesda. DR.. Conrad of
Chevy Chase, DR.. Broschart of Gathers
burg. DR.. o. M. Linthicum Of Rockville. DR..
E. L. Bullard of Rockville. DR.. W. T. Pratt
of Rockville.
MENcKEN's LETTER No. 1.
Written by H. L. Mencken. at the re-
quest of and with the approval Of the
Maryland Cancer Committee representing
the American Society for the Control of
Cancer.
To be distributed to ministers. priests
and rabbi; to be read in churches and
synagogues Sunday. October 80, later to
be read in all lay organizations of churches
and synagosues and to be published in
any publication of the church or syna-
sosues or lay organizations.
To be released for publication, Monday,
October 81. 1921.
The object of Cancer Week is not to
spread alarm about cancer, but to bring
hope. The causes and nature of this ter
rible disease are still obscure and once it is
fully developed, its cure is almost impOssi-
BILE. But one thing. at least. has been
demonstrated by the surgical experience
of the past ten or twenty years; it can be
cured if II is taken in time. A cancer. it
has been found, never starts as cancer.
1t always starts as something that is not
in itself. dangerous, lump. a mole, a wart,
bruise, small ulcer, burn. Such things
often 60 away themselves. and then no
harm is done. But II they remain a long
time. and sometimes even a relatively short
time. they may turn into cancers, and then
they are very dangerous indeed. The safest
plan is to have all such things attended
to at once. A good doctor can determine
whether they are likely to turn into can
GERS or not. II not. simple remedies will
usually suffice to heal them. And If they
are of the dangerous variety, they can be
removed at once and risk Of cancer pre-
vented. Such an operation, in these early
stages. is quick and painless. and causes
no disability. 1t can be done as rule,
under a local anaesthetic prOcaine. not
ether or gas. Even II cancer has begun
to develop. the life of the patient may be
saved II it is taken in time. But not IL it is
neglected until the late STAGES. The surgical
records show clearly the Importance of the
early treatment. In the early stages. even Of
undoubted cancer, the percentage of re-
cOveries is very high; in the late STAGES.
it is next to nothing
The surgeon can do nothing until the
patient comes to him. The later the patient
comes. the more difficult his task-the
worse the operation and the smaller the
chances of cure. If you have lump. a
wart. bruise that won't heal. or any I'M
isual discharge. as rule bloody. or a sore
pot anywhere that resists ordinary RENE
dps. 60 to doctor and ask him about it. Il
WI probably turn out to be harmless. and hi
vii cure It quickly. And II it is something
woAe. the warning that goes before can
GER then going early will save your life.
A calcer does not come unannounced. You
have Warming. But that warning must be
needed Instantly.
j. E. DEETS.
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