Cancer & Women

When each of some 665,000--members of the National Women's Christian Temperance Union, General Federation of Women's Clubs, National Council of Jewish Women and Metropolitan Life Insurance policyholders--ripped open the envelopes of her mail last week, there slipped into her hand from one envelope a pamphlet which bore on its face the horrendous word cancer. "What Every Woman Should Do About Cancer" was the pamphlet's title. It was part of the American Society for the Control of Cancer's latest effort to reach 8,000,000 U. S. women.

The chief reason that the society is driving its information at women is that more women than men die of cancer, "on account of the part which women play in the reproduction of the race." Early recognition and prompt treatment of cancer is always of inestimable value, particularly in breast cancer. The burden of caring for the sick and aged falls chiefly upon women, and for this reason they should know that cancer is not contagious, and that many of the common beliefs regarding its cause and treatment are untrue. Because they are so often the guardians of the family's health, the Society feels it is particularly important that they should realize that prompt treatment from a reliable physician is the only course to follow when a cancer is suspected and discovered.