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Show CANCER S DANGER SIGNALS the safe side and see if you experience: doctor your Be on 1. Any sore that does not heal, particularly about the tongue. 2. A painless lump or thickening especially in the breast, lip, or tongue. 3. Irregular breathing or discharge from any natural body opening. 4. Progressive change in color or size of a wart, mole, or birthmark. 5. Persistent indigestion. 6. Persistent hoarseness, by Howard Earle Ktecc? G0 here is an air of optimism among medical scientists today; they believe a breakthrough in the battle against cancer may come within the foreseeable future. Many notable gains have been scored against this dread disease in the last decade, indicating that even more spectacular progress will come within the next few years. More than 800,000 persons in the United States have had a bout with cancer and won. One out of every three persons in this country stricken with cancer this year will be saved. One half of all cancer cases today are curable if detected in time. Take the case of Edna Mae, a beautiful, vibrant young mother, who discovered a lump on her breast one morning while bathing. In the back of her mind she recalled something about a lump on the breast being a cancer signal. This is not always true, 4 Family Weekly, August 4, 1 957 (feODC? but Edna Mae didnt take a chance. She visited her doctor, who explained that all women should examine their breasts for lumps, dimples, or any irregularities which might be a danger signal. The checks should be made standing or sitting and also lying flat on the back. Edna Maes own detection of the possible danger signal, and prompt action, saved her life. Her doctor diagnosed cancer of the breast and began immediate treatment. Statistics show that 81 percent of breast cancers can be cured if they are treated early within a few days or weeks after the first appearance of symptom. Many of the 25,000 men who die annually of lung cancer also could be saved through early diagnosis and treatment. Children suffering leukemia the most common form of cancer in youths may have years added to their lives through early discovery of the disease along with proper therapy. Of course, treatment for any kind of cancer there are about 70 different ty;es cannot be given until the disease is diagnosed. Once that is done, science may attack with weapons which are improving and increasing in number almost daily. New drugs and formulas, tissue cultures and radiology, hormones, viruses, and vaccines are being employed in test tubes and experimentally with mammals to carry the fight against cancer to victory. Time is one of the most vital elements. That was proved with Edna Mae. It is being proved repeatedly with others, like Ellen, who noted irregularities in the functioning of her female organs. Ellen went to her doctor, who diagnosed cancer of the uterus. Like Edna Mae, Ellen saved her life through early detection of her condition and immediate treatment. Seven of every 10 cases of uterine XtXD cancer can be cured if discovered in time. The ratio of cures is climbing even higher as researchers seek new means of treatment. are currently more than 500 separate cancer-researprojects financed wholly or partially by the American Cancer Society, with grants so far this year totaling more than $7 Vi million. Congress earmarked $20 million this year for research in drugs that might prove effective against cancer cells. Individuals, corporations, and foundations are pouring additional millions of dollars into thousands of research projects. So far, no chemicals have been found which completely destroy widespread cancer in the human body, but chemicals have been found which kill cancer cells living side by side in test tubes with normal cells. Drugs also have been found which completely rpHERE ch |