Show Saves Lives We know that we could save many more people from colon- colon rectal cancer cancer of the lower digestive digesU ve tract than we wedo wedo wedo do at present if they would only help us Dr Richard Y Y Card chairman of the Medical Board of the American Cancer Society's Society's Society's Soci Soci- ety's Utah Division observed THE BASIC problem is getting getting get get- ting them to come to the physician physician cian clan for a thorough physical examination each year and that means for those over 40 an examination which Includes the Dr Card went on to explain is a common bi bit tor of med med- ical leal shorthand for type of examination which the we an an illuminated illuminat illuminat- ed viewing device for device for the in inspection inspection in- in inspection of the lower part of the Intestine THE REASON why this is so important he continued is that wat cancer o of the colon and rectum is the single most common common com com- mon form of internal cancer in the country today It affects about Americans each Year and about a year die cUe of or HIts it H. Its rather odd and sad when v you think about it but people have J e a strange way of reacting Sin to numbers bers like those those- It If you told old Sinn lotion them of that the entire P Pop PU- PU u Poughkeepsie NY Was eras going Dve to die dle durIng the next Year theY'd d feel a sense of shOCk BUT THAT figure Is roughly less s than the number who Will dIe of rectal colon-rectal cancer unless t the he situation improves radically When as asked ed if it the prospects i I were good for such Improvement Improvement Improve Improve- improvement ment Dr Card replied that they could be but that It would be up to the individual YOU SEE he commented first of all the individual has hasto hasto hasto to go for an annual physical exam Unfortunately we know that all too many Americans dont don't in spite of or the fact that the American Cancer Society has been emphasizing the regular regular regular reg reg- ular checkups checkup's saving life po- po po potential potential for years Second of all he has to make certain that a is part of the examination We estimate I that almost three-quarters three of all cancers that occur in the large intestine can be detected by in patients wi without without with with- th- th out but symptoms but that almost I nine out of ten in that same viewable area will be missed if the physician m uses only a digital finger examining technique They will just not be felt ASKED WHY so many Americans Americans Ameri Ameri- cans failed to have a physical examination each year and a with it Dr Card suggested suggested sug sug- suggested the two possibilities of procrastination and unwarranted ed fear Its It's all too natural for us to postpone certain duties he said and then there are those people who would rather live In ignorance They're afraid of what might be found THAT SECOND motive is the saddest thIng tiling of all Of course in the m majority a J ori t y of cases a physical examination will give a clean bill of health so far as cancer is concerned And when rectum colon-rectum cancer Is found at an early enough stage a almost I 1 m most 0 s t three-in-four three cases might be saved Today the fraction who actually actually actually actu actu- ally are saved is only in four-in- ten This means that about 11 additional lives might be saved each year if it but only if H the condition were treated in time But to treat it In time one must detect It in time he continued and that requires regular periodic examination DR CARD concluded I I realize re realize realize re- re alize there are some who are reluctant to have a either from a misplaced sense of embarrassment or because th they y fear It will be painful i However when properly performed per per- formed there is little if any actual pain which results As Asfor Asfor for embarrassment that has no j I I place In a doctors doctor's office J especially when can be and has been literally a saving life-saving matter |