Evening capital. [volume] (Annapolis, Md.) 1922-1981, 1922-11-15
Fighting the Ravages
Of Cancer
Contributed by
Maryland Cancer Committee
Cancer OF The Lip, Tongue And Nh.
2 cous Membrane Lining OF The
Mouth Is A. Preventable
Disease
Contributed by

Anyone has read the information
distributed by the American Society
for the Control of Cancer, has become
familiar with the relationship be-
tween chronic Irritation and cancer.
In the days OF the chimney-sweep. the
SCOT and dirt which covered the men
who cleaned the chimneys caused in
certain number. cancer OF the scro-
tum. The women OF an ignorant, par
TALLY civilized colored race who con-
stantly hold in their mouths the irri-
tnting juice of the bctel nut arc very
prone 10 die of cancer OF the mouth.
However. there is better example
OF tho relation Of chronic irritation 10
cancer In the most civilized educated
raccs:-the cancer of the lip. tongue
and mouth III smokers who allow
their teeth to become ragged and
dirty for years. II Is quite true that
the irritation of tobacco and ragged,
dirty teeth does not always produce
cancer of the mouth, but we rarely
see cancer OF the mouth. except in in
dividuals who for years have smoked,
chewed snuff and who, in addition,
have ragged. dirty teeth and who rare
Is, II ever see a dentist.
Fortunately The majority of us have
something in our bodies which pro-
tects us from cancer growth. Other
wise. thousands OF men would die
yearly OF cancer of the mouth, while
as a matter OF fact only a, few thou
sand of men of this country die of
this. The lives of those few thousand
who die OF cancer OF the mouth can
and should be protected. To keep the
teeth clean and smooth is the essen
tiat part of personal hygiene in every
individual. and especially so in any
one who uses tobacco in any form.
Everyone who observes in the lip,
tongue or mouth a fever blister.
canker sore. a red area, an unhealed
sore Of any kind, an area Of irrita-
ton. or anything that can be seen
and felt different from the normal
mucous membrane, should stop the.
use OF tobacco in any form and see
their dentist and medical adviser.
Smokers who observe burns on the
lip, or white patches (leucoplakia1 on
the lip, tongue or mouth. should dis
continue the use of tobacco in any
form.
We have the positive evidence that
this simple Information has saved and
is saving many lives. In the first ten
years of the experience of one clinic
in this country Ito 190O) but one. man
consulted the surgeons OF this clinic
for a sore on the tongue that was not
cancer-three percent. of thelRRscs.-
In this same clinic since 1920 over
ilfty-fiye per cent of the individuals
who seek advice because OF a sore
tongue. have not reached the stage of
cancer and can be protected In the
same clinic up TO 1900 but ono man
came under observation with an early
cancer OF the tongue. and this indi-
vidual was cured. He represented
about three per cent. Of the individ-
nails with cancer OF tho tongue. In
this clinic since 1920 the per cent
OF early cancers OF the tongue have
increased TO forty per cent. and hope
less cancer has bcen reduced from
forty-eight TO eleven per cent. The
chances of curing an early cancer OF
the tongue are about seventy per
cent. OF late cancer less than ten
per cent But no informed individ-
Yal should allow a cancer of the
mouth TO develop. Ii is proventable
disease. disease of dirt and ignor-
ance. and should be eliminated from
ihe world by education.