| Transcript |
revelations about these deaths is that
a large percentage of these cases
Wouldn't have occurred if the persons
affected had seen their physicians
in time. According to statistics, every
third cancer death is a needless
! death.2
How soon is "in time"? The American Cancer Society replies by stating,
A cancer can usually be cured if it
is properly treated while still growing
in one place. What most people do not
realize is that cancers grow in two
different ways — by spreading and by
colonizing."
Cancer cells start growing in one
place, but sooner or later more will
break away "and move through the
lymph vessels to a lymph node or to
other parts of the body through the
blood stream. All of this may take
place without the patient feeling any
pain or discomfort whatsoever. But
Once a cancer has started to colonize
Or spread (metastasize) to other parts.
•t obviously will be very difficult if
not impossible, for a doctor to track it
■Dwn and treat it properly.
On the other hand, if cancer is discovered while it is still local or confined to its orginal site, it can usually
be destroyed by radium or X-ray treatments, or removed by surgery. This is
■vhy the family physician is always
On the alert for any possible signs of
cancer — he knows.
With a thorough physical examination, any doctor can detect other com-
"lon danger signals, in addition to the
seven already mentioned. Many persons believe that only a highly trained
specialist with elaborate equiment can
detect cancer in its early stages. On
"le contrary, any careful doctor can
detect many different conditions that
Coulcl mean cancer simply by making
Ise of his eyes, ears, and hands, and
by utilizing a few simple instruments
Miich he has in his office. Then, if
"iere is any reason to suspect that a
Patient might have cancer or a precancerous condition, the doctor can
administer a more detailed ex-imina-
b'on.
I •e.I-To/e Signs
' There are various ways in which a
doctor may detect cancer when a pa-
bent is being examined. Doubtless he
■•ill check thoroughly for any abnormal skin conditions, paying special
attention to moles, warts, lumps, sores.
sCaly patches, ancl old scars. Skin can-
(Conlintied on pane 44)
'Ibid, p. 11.
*acts Fohum News, December, 1956
Babe Didrikson
Zaharias, greatest woman athlete of all
time, flashes her familiar victory smile
after winning the
Babe Zaharias Open,
a golf tournament held
in her honor, at
Beaumont, Texas, in
1953. Soon after
this victory, she entered
a Galveston hospital
to fight a brave but losing battle against
her most deadly rival
— Cancer.
WIDE SS'EEIEB.D i-iioto
Cancer Defeats No. 1 Champion
Recently, cancer claimed the life of its most courageous enemy,
. gallant woman athlete, Babe Didrikson Zaharias.
For three long, pain-wracked years, the Babe refused to give up fighting. Stricken at the age of 39, after becoming the most famous woman
athlete of all time by winning a total of eighty-three golf ancl tennis
tournament championships in addition to those won in other sports,
Babe's doctors knexv that she was a hopeless case almost from the
very start.
When the doctors informed her that she must have major surgery in
order to survive, the Rabe showed the same indomitable courage that
had characterized her life as a sports champion. When the first operation
was over, it was discovered that Babe's cancer condition was more
serious than first anticipated. Never complaining once, realizing that she
was facing the most ruthless competition she'd ever known, Babe bravely
submitted to an agonizing series of one operation after another, all to
no avail.
Privately, the top specialists treating her marveled that she was still
alive; but her will to live and fight on upset all their predictions. Even
towards the last, on the morning before- she died, she whispered to her
husband, George Zaharias, in ever-constant vigil at her bedside, that
she'd beat cancer yet, that she wouldn't die.
The end finally came to plucky Babe Didrikson Zaharias, but the memory of her struggle against an eneipy called cancer has inspired us
throughout the world to redouble our efforts to defeat cancer once and
for all. The legend of the Babe along with that of immortal Damon
Runyon will be spurred on by additional contributions now to the
Cancer Fund. Aided by public donations, research can be greatly
increased and time shortened in vanquishing cancer. Send donations to
the Rabe Zaharias Fund in care of your local American Cancer Society
office.
Page 15
|
