The Washington herald., 1922-10-02
EARLY OPERATION
WILL CURE CANCER,
SURGEONS ASSERT
American Society Will
Ask President to Aid in
Publicity Campaign.
URGES PREVENTION
One Out of Every Ten Deaths
Above Age of 40 Laid
To Dread Malady.

The PRESIDENT OF the united
States will be appealed to this week
to lend his aid to a movement
which will educate the public in
protective measures against the
ravages of cancer, a malady which
is destroying more Americans an
nually than were killed in the
world war
Cancer is one of the preventable
seases threatening human life,
and an organized drive against 1t
is in preparation. The movement
will be instituted in November to
arouse the American people to the
dangers of the disease and the pre-
cautions that can be taken to curl
It's spread.
Aims to Awaken Public.
The destruction by cancer within
recent years has been so alarming
that the American Society for the
Control of Cancer has determined IL
to be imperative that the people or
the United States be awakened to
the scourge just as they have been
awakened with wonderful results
to tuberculosis.
Hundreds, If not thousands. of
indiv duals' now die of cancer for
want of preventive measures, the
society claims.
The society in announcing the
drive that VII take place in the
week Of November 1920. asserts
that whereas up to July. 1919. 76.-
433 A merican soldiers were killed
or died of wounds or disease in the
world war. no less than 100000
persons died of cancer in the Un ted
States during the two years this
country was involved in that war.
AnIict. 1Oo.ooo in U. s.
Cancer causes one out of every
ten deaths above the age of 40 in
this country. 1t is declared. and in
persons above the age of 40, cancer
is more prevalent than tuberculosis
or pneumonia.
There are 100000 persons in the
United States now afflicted with
some form of cancer. while thou
sands of dollars are wasted on
worthless cancer cures" agents of
the society assert.
Control of Cancer does not believe
nor assert that cancer is always
curable. but it does hold that II
may be cured in many instances
and that in practically all cases
much can be gained by meeting the
disease in its incipiency instead of
delaying as IS so often done. The
sOciety's aim is to tear away the
veil of mystery which surrounds
cancer in the public eye and to tell
the actual truth about it.
Not a Blood Disease.
All over the country, men who
have spent their lives in cancer
research, will be IN charge of To-
Called campaigns and will dissem-
nate Information by means of lee
lures, personal work and newspaper
publicity.
The assertions that cancer Is not
a constitutional nor a blood disease
and that it involves no hereditary
taint nor should there be any
thought of disgrace attached to 1t.
| will be stressed in this campaign.
Men and women all over the coun-
try VIII be taught that certain def
mite symptoms precede every can
Ger and these warnings should be
needed at once.
Scientific papers dealing with the
| work thus far accomplished in try
ng to find the cause of cancer will
be given to the public. Despite the
fact that, up to this time, its ulti-
mate origin IS unknown. the public
will be asked not to lose hope. but
to believe that science will, in the
end, find this cause
Durable in Early Stages.
The most eminent surgeons and
practitioners and specialists in the
United States will participate in the
drive. Likewise the facts relating
to the cures of cancer will be pub
lished. DIR. Howard Canning Tay-
lor, vice president of the society.
asserts that cancer Is durable If
taken early and properly treated.
DIR. Will ]. Mayo declares cancer
durable II operated upon before ad-
jacent glands are involved. Both
these men, with hundreds of others
of like reputation will participate
in the drive.
According to the Metropolitan
Life Insurance Company, the death
rate from cancer was higher in 1921
than in any year since 1911. There
was drop in the death rate dur
ing 1918 and 1919. but the experts
believe that this was because many
persons died of influenza who 9TH
erwise would have succumbed to