CANCER TREATMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1943, Page 4

CANCER TREATMENT

OCCURRENCE OF DISEASE INTERNALLY. SOME SYMPTOMS TO NOTE. Only the large intestine, or colon and rectum, is liable to cancer. , It comes, as usual, in people mostly over forty years of age, but occasionally in those in the thirties or even twenties. There is no marked preponderance amongst males or females. Being an organ entirely hidden in the abdomen,' obvious signs of trouble in the large intestine do not appear till a later stage—unfortunately sometimes a “too-late stage—in the course of the disease. The symptoms which should draw attention to the possibility of cancer of the bowel, and which should cause anyone observing them to seek proper investigation and advice are these: — 1. Alteration in the usual habit of the bowel action, in the direction of either constipation or looseness, arising more or less ‘suddenly without other cause, such as altered diet, and persisting more than a few days. 2. Unusual appearances in the motions—such as the presence of watery fluid, slime, pus, or blood. The blood might be bright red, dark red, tarry or watery. Blood may come from the relatively harmless condition of piles. 3. More unusual “presenting” symptoms are: Lump in the abdomen, anaemia, pain of a griping character in the abdomen, pain and distension associated with severe constipation, and pain with or without a lump at the opening of the back passage. Any of these symptoms should send the patient calmly but promptly for proper examination by special instruments, and perhaps X-rays. Should the trouble be piles ,or other simple condition, treatment can be given and everyone reassured. Should a cancerous growth be revealed the chances are it will be in the early stages, and suitable for removal by operation. X-rays and radium have little or no place in the treatment of cancer of the bowel. The outlook is good if the case is treated early. If complete eradication is impossible, temporary relief and comfort can be given.