PREVENTION OF CANCER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 65, 5 August 1914, Page 3

PREVENTION OF CANCER.

j SOME DANGER SIONAI.S. Tin: Portsmouth (England) Town Council have taken vigorous steps ivith a view to the early recognition and treatment of cancer, and as an important part of their campaign ; have decided to advertise monthly in the newspapers the following notice drawn up hy the local Health Officer: "Tlie only cure for cancer at present known is its early and complete removal. Cancer, if removed early, lias been proved conclusively to lie a tillable disease. If neglected and not removed ill its earlier stages, is it practically invariably fatal. The paramount importance of its early recognition and early removal is therefore evident. l'"or this purpose the assistance of the public and the medical profession is requisite, and a grave responsibility rests on liotl). It is only by their mutual co-operation that the ravages of this terrible disease can lie lessened. The following information should be of vital assistanclvto the public Jt is no exaggeration to yay that, if acted upon, the result will be the saving annually of many liun : dreds oI lives. which are at present in- ' evitablv lost: — 1. Cancer in its early and curable stages, gives no vise to pain or symptoms of ill-health whatever. "2. Nevertheless, in its commonmost situations, the signs of it in its early stage are conspicuously manifest. To witness:

"13. In case of any swelling occurring in the breast of a woman after 10 years,of age, a medical man should at once be consulted. A large proportion of such swellings are cancer. "4. Any bleeding, however trivial, occurring after the change of life means almost invariably cancer, and cancer whiclh is then curable. If neglected till pain occurs, it means cancer whiclh is almost always incurable. "5. Any irregular bleeding occurring at the change of life should invariably be submitted to a doctor's investigation It is not the natural method of the onset of the change of life, and in a largo number of cases means commencing canter. "0. Any wart or sore occurring on the lower lip in a man after 4."> years of age is almost certainly cancer. If removed at once, the cure is certain; if neglected, the result is inevitably fatal. "7. Any sore or swelling occurring on the tongue or inside of tlie inoutii in a man after 45 years of age should lie 'submitted for investigation without a moment's delay, and the decision at once arrived nt by an expert microscopical examination whether it is ameer or not. A very large proportion of such sores or 'swellings occurring at this time of life al'e cancer, and if neglected even fur a few weeks the resu'l is almost invariably fatal. If removed at once, the prospect of cure is good. "8. Any bleeding occurring from the boivel after 45 years of age, commonly supposed by the public to be "piles." should be submitted for investigation at once. A large proportion of suc.li cases are cancer, which at this stage is perfectly curable. "!>. When warts, moles, or other growths on the skin are exposed to a constant irritation, they should be immediately removed. A, large number of them, if neglected terminate in eancoj'. "10 Avoid irritation of the tongue and cheeks by broken jagged teeth, and of the lower by tile clay pipes. Many of these irritations, if neglected, terminate in cancer. ''ll. It is desirable that rooms occupied by a person snll'ering from cancer should be cleaned and disinfected from time to time."