EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS ESSENTIAL IN CANCER CASES

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 December 1947, Page 10

EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS ESSENTIAL IN CANCER CASES

Investigations have proved that the main cause of the continued high death rate among cancer victims is delay in diagnosis and treatment. In more than three-quarters of the instances, the patient was responsible for the delay. To give modern curative methods a chance of success treatment of cancer must be early and adequate, says a Department of Health bulletin. Everybody must be aware of the possibility of cancer, especially from middle age onwards, and we must keep a close watch for early signs and symptoms. The doctor to whom we confide our early doubts must take all steps necessary to make a prompt diagnosis. If he confirms any early suspicions, we must lose no time in undergoing modern treatment, with reasonable hope of success. Our cancer clinics are here to see that the best in medical science is available to those who report early enough. Cancer may occur in any part of the body. Most usual sites are the skin, lips, tongue, gullett, stomach, large intestine, rectum, prostate gland, womb and breast. The generative organs and the breast are most often involved in women, and the stomach in meh. The danger signals for cancer are: any lump in any part of the body which comes painlessly or grows steadily; any sore or ulcer which fails to heal quickly under treatment: growths, moles, warts, scars and blemishes which suddenly begin to. change in colour, size or texture; any irregular bleeding or abnormal discharge; any indigestion which doesn’t

stop quickly on sensible diet or with simple remedies. In four things—the patient reporting signs and symptoms early, the doctor diagnosing promptly, both losing no time once the diagnosis is made, and adequate treatment —lies the hope of cancer cures while the disease is still limited and localised.