Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-05
The HdSkin Letter ., ' : 2s:sa
CANCER, A COMMON ENEMY

Washington, D. c., July 2.-Cancer
is the next common enemy that man
is scheduled to fight All over the
world this mysterious disease is taking
heavy toll.
In Kashmir, where the natives ear
ry chacoal stoves like muffs for
warmth, cancer Of the walls of the
stomach is often contracted as a re-
suit of the continuous heat and irri-
tation. In the Philippines native wom-
en- chew the fiery betel nut and even
park wads Of their favorite chew in
the cheek over night. Cancer Of the
cheek with them is a common malady.
Among highly civilized races the
disease finds more victims than among
the Asiatics. Cancer is taking more
lives in our own country each year
than we lost in the war. One person
in every 10 who lives to be more than
40 years old dies of cancer. The
death rate from it in this country is
said to he on the increase.
This is the situation as detailed by
the American Society for the Control
of Cancer. Yet the outlook is hope
full, the society believes. Each year
the organization is holding canoe week
all over the country, and doctors and
prominent citizens are giving their
time to arouse the public to the I'M
gently.
Gradually people are beginning to
realize that cancer can be cured in
its early stages, and they are learning
to recognize the symptoms. But there
are still people who believe that can
Ger is inevitably fatal, and SO long as
this impression remains little Roadway
can be made against the disease.
tuberculosis has been checked in
it's devastating advance only since peo-
pie learned to treat it intelligently in
stead of carefully hiding it as a family
disgrace. Cancer is still widely re-
garded from a medieval standpoint. 1t
is thought Of as an affliction so terri
BILE that no one must admit. even to
himself. that he has it until the worst
is definitely known. A lump that
grows with sinister regularity is Just
a little tumor." And if it turns out
to be a lancer the victim comforts
could have been done anyway.
Doctors estimate that a whole year
passes in the average cancer case be
fore the patient grows sufficiently
alarmed to consult an expert. BY that
time the disease may have spread so
through the body that even though the
local cancerous growth is removed the
trouble may appear elsewhere.
Durable In Early Stage
This is unfortunate, we are told. be
cause it is so unnecessary. WIN all
the mystery that surrounds cancer one
fact shines out. That is that cancer
in its early. local stage is definitely
durable. Once it spreads to the glands
and through the blood to other parts
of the body. doctors are practically
helpless.
The difficulty is to make people I'M
derstand the symptoms and the dan
ger of delay in obtaining diagnosis and
treatment. Cancer is not like typhoid
or scarlet fever. diseases that run a
swift course and leave the body. 1t
is more like the attack of decay in a
tooth. 1t implants itself insidiously in
an individual. perhaps without any
warning of pain. In some mole. or
scar. or tiny sore. a few normal
cells become lawless. As one doctor
| puts il. the cells lose their ability to
live a community existence: they go
crazy,
At first their wild course does lit
tie apparent injury. If the wild cells
are near the Nt4Ild't VI IL Shih OIL
abnormal condition is generally no.
| ticed in an unusual growth or appear
snce. The troublesome cells are grow
ing and a poison is being manufactur-
! ed. The destructive work is begun.
1t is in this local stage that the wild
cells can be controlled. The American
Society for the Control of Cancer is
| urging that a lump or other suspicious
symptom should be examined by A
competent physician as soon as 1t is
noted-within 4S hours if possible
instead Of allowing it to go for a year
u~ntreated.
Like a decaying tooth. cancerous
| tissue left alone goes from bad to
worse. It is estimated that the dis
Ease untreated is practically 100 per
cent fatal. On the other hand. even
with the delays that make treatment
more difficult. doctors estimate that
80 per cent Of the cases that they
handle are cured. They say that It
is unfortunate that so little notice is
taken Of cures. Patients who have