Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-04-22

Danger Signs
About Cancer
Pointed Out

operations or illnesses are silent
When 1t comes to cancer. Yet frank
and Tree discussion of their expert
ence by those who have had the di-
SeaSe and been cured if it would do
much to allay the dangerous and
binding fear which surrounds the
subject OF cancer, according to Mrs
u. ). Coltrane, Of Raleigh, state head
OF the Women's Field Army of the
American Society for the Crontrol
of Cancer.
The field army, however, points
with pride to one outspoken excep-
ton to the general rule, DR.. Anna e.
Palmer, a slight white-haired lady,
who is eighty-tWo years OLD and who
has served as a Vice-cOmmander in
Massachusetts of the Army. In 1920,
DR.. Palmer was operated upon for
cancer OF the breast. Some years
later when it was certain that she had
been cured, she took up what has
renamed her major interest, teach
ing people to have a sensible attitude
ABOUT cancer. Dr. Palmer was a
pioneer IN urging Women's clubs to
pegln the fine work they are now
dong IN cancer control. Today. as
president of the Cured Cancer club
OF the American Society for the Con-
troll OF Cancer, she feels that those
VINO nave been cured of this disease
must learn to talk about their ex-
perience.
Despite the great progress made
IN recent years." DR.. Palmer saws
IN the diagnosis and treatment of
cancer, most people still believe that
the disease is incurable. The fact is
that III its early stages it is USUALLY
durable. If those of us, who from our
own experience know this, will talk
about cancer as freely and informal
ly as we would of a broken arm.
there will be change in popular
feeling. Our silence leaves the sub
Ject surrounded by terror and SUPER
stltlon and prevents the spread of
knowledge that could save thousands
of lives We can help replace fear
full ignorance with helpful alertness. %
Or. Palmer is not an eccentric.
publicity-loving person, but a dig
nltled and normal woman. AIthough
she no longer practices medicine
she is still a member of the Massa-
chusetts Medical Society and is ac-
tive In health work in the state. The
mother of one daughter, school
teacher, DIR. Palmer does her own
housework. Her hobbies are garden
ing and the care of her two pets
Dahr, a dog, and Amber, a cat. The
book she has read with the most in
terest in the last year was the bio
graphy OF another woman who made
a great contribution to the cancer
fight-Madam Curie by Eve Curie.
When a radio announcer, after
listening to the warm twang in her
voice, asked if she were Scotch-Irish.
she chuckled and replied, 'No, plain
Yankee, thank God. Six of my faith
ers's ancestors crossed on the May
flower and on my mothers side, my
people settled in New England in the
zoos. Where the dickens did you
get the Scotch-Irish idea?"
The Cured Cancer club was lorm-
ed last spring in connection with the
annual April educational campaign
OF the Women's Field Army Against
Cancer. The club is open to those
vouched for by their physicians as
having had cancer and been cured of
it at least five years before their
application for membership In re-
cent years, the American College of
Surgeons has been collecting statis-
tics from approved clinics on cured
cancer cases. Today there are COM
plete data on 9,195 such cases, near
ly two-thirds of whom are women.
The As state divisions of the Field
Army are anxious to see the club in
crease its membership, but progress
is slow. Men and women are still
reluctant to admit that they have
had disease. which is so widely and
blindly feared. However a Yankee
is not easily discouraged.
'The Cured Cancer club is certain
to grow" DR.. Palmer says. "Years
ago when I first began featuring,
audiences were embarrassed and I'M
willing to listen. Today I find a real
and deep interest in cancer. Facts
eventually are accepted, however
strong the prejudices against them
may be. The spread of the idea be-
hind the club will give encourage
ment to the 100000 men and women
in our country who have cancer.
And it will teach others that if they
act promptly when symptoms appear
that may mean cancer, they too have
fine chance of cure"
The symptoms that may indicate
the presence of the disease and are
always important enough for visit
to physician-the cancer danger
signals-are, according to DR.. Pal
mer:
1. Any persistent lump or thick
ening, especially in the breast.
2. Any irregular bleeding or dis
charge from any body openings.
3. Any sore that does not heal
particularly about the tongue, mouth
or lips.
4. Persistent indigestion, often ac-
companied by loss of weight
5. Sudden changes in the form or
rate of growth of mole or wart.