The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-11-17
FIGHT ON CANCER
BEGAN IN EARNEST
American Society For Con-
troll Behind Battle {
WARNING THE PEOPLE
They Can Lend Assistance II
Preventing Disease From
Gaining Further Ground

For the Control OF cancer, 3IO sew
enth Avenue, New York, are putting
forth every effort this week, which
is designated as Cancer Week, to
educate the people in many ways Of
this dread disease.
It is definitely stated that cancer,
contrary to the Old and prevailing
beiief, is not hereditary disease.
Cancer is also not comnuhicaoie
disease. 1t Is not possible to eaten
cancer from anyone.
Principal Forms ana Danger Signals
Ii Is not possible in One lecture 10
discuss fully all forms OF cancer. In
order to take warming in time, how
ever, the public should know the
cominonest symptoms or danger
signals of the more FREQUENT and
important types Of the disease.
These signals do not necessarily
mean cancer, but they should lead
to pr0i1ipt consultation with goou
physician Or surgeon.
Cancer of the Breast: One Of the
most hopeful and durable forms be-
cause early diagnosis is compare
lively easy; but the disease spreads
rapidly from this locality and i'm
In general, concer Is not painful
during the durable stages, and in
the breast in particular any lump is
vitality important, whether painful
or not. (Exception-Lumps sud
denly appearing in the nursing
breast are usually temporary and
unimportant.)
While MANY persistent Jumps are
not cancer, any of them may turn
into cancer. Those which appear
after thirty years of age are espec-
tally important. All Jumps in the
breast at any stage should be
promptly seen by a competent sur
geon since as rule they demand
prompt removal.
Trining nature of the removal OF
small lumps contrasted (both as to
procedure and results) with radical
operation. Little or no disfgure-
ment If lump proves benign.
ANY lump which Is allowed to
persist until 1t is recognized as can
Ger will prove fatal II further neg
lected.
Cancer of the Uterus: One OF
the most frequent seats of cancer.
Formerly among most hopeless, but
now among more hopeful OF locah
ties because diagnosis and removal
is possible and relatively safe. Two
quite distinct varieties, cancer OF
ceryiX and cancer of body.
PIE caflcerous stage" ANY un-
healed liberation, erosion, or So
called liberation should be carefully
considered in regard to possible in
ffuence in the production Of cancer.
Such LESSONS are durable either by
local treatment or by minor oper.
alton such as arnputation or repair
of the cervix.
Cancer of the Digestive Organs:
Career of the stomach, intestines,
and liver Is frequent and formid.
able disease common to both sexes
and amounting to forty per cent of
all cases OF cancer. While the prob
ability of cures is considerably less
than in the locations previously dis
cussed, cancer Of these organs can
still be successfully removed If the
diagnosis Is made early enough.
Cancer of the liver is an .excep-
ton since the disease cannot be re-
moved from this organ. Fortunately
primal }aficer of this organ is rare.
Caaees OF the stomach and intes-
tines is at best one OF the most diff
fcult forms of the disease with
which to deal and the earliest pos.
sible attention to danger signals is
ten so 'insidious that mAlignancy
may be far advanced when the first
warning comes. In all chronic in
digestions in middle age the most
careful and early investigation at
the hands of a skilled physician is
advisable and all the constantly i'm.
proving technical methods of mod
ern medical science especially the
X-ray, are required. TO await the
of unmistakable physi-
cal signs means fatal postponement
of the operation. In person over
thirty FIVE years old persistent IN
should be noted with sus-
icion. A change in Appetite such as
q distaste for meat is not ir1fre-
quently a symptom of cancer of the
stomach. Pain at the pit of the
and vomiting, often without
visible food, are still graver danger
signals. IT,.
Cancer of the rectum. The dis
ease is frequently mistaken for
hemorrhoids and treated as such.
Bleeding from the rectum is usually
due to hemorrhoids which are rela-
lively unimportant but may be an
early SympJOLu VI CdhCGi anu IuCi .
fore demands thorough examination.
Differential diagnosis can be made
only by examination. Treatment
without examination is wrong.
Gastric ulcer Is generally regard
ed as an important pre- cancerous
condition leading to cancer of tho
stomach. Some surgeons report that
as many as 4G per cent Of cases OF
cancer of the Stomach give a his
tory of preceding gastric ulcer. I'm
the Importance of treat
ing gastric ulcer as a possible
source of cancer should be generally
Cancer of the Skin: Frequently
originates in benign humps or ulcer
ations. Most warts and moles are
unimportatlt but those which change
in size, shape, or appearance or are
subject to Irritation should be re.
garded. with suspicion. Their. re-
moval may prevent cancer.
Persistent irritations, unlcerations
or Jumps anywhere In the ska
should be watched. II there Is an
Increase In the rate OF growth or If
appears they should be
at once. Competent treat
ment OF such conditions and OF ac-
tuai early cancer OF the skin mean
as rule a trif1ing operation or the
use Of x ray or radium. The use of
in competent, hands is
successful but as rule
other, methods are safe and produce
less deforfhity.
Cancer is not transmitted by con-