Los Banos Rotary Club History
Cancer Group Tells Of Danger

There were a lot of serious faces-and quite a few discarded cigarettes—at the Rotary Club luncheon Tuesday noon as Dr. Gerald Wood, radiologist at Merced General Hospital, gave the history of cancer and of the research that is being done to combat it.
Cancer last year caused the death of more than 220,000 people in the United States—the highest toll in history. The major reason for the increase is the growing number of older people in the population coupled with the fact that the cancer death rate rises very rapidly with age.
However, Dr. Wood stated that medical science has made important advancements in treatment of the disease in the past several years and today at least half of all cancer cases can be cured if treated properly. Treatment of skin cancer particularly, he said, has progressed to the point where between 90 and 95 percent of all cases can be cured if treatment is started early enough.
The treatment of lung cancer, which requires surgery, is today only about 5 per cent successful, but Dr. Wood expressed confidence that new anesthesia, new knowledge and methods will increase the percentage to at least 50 per cent within a short time.
He said the disease is unique in that responsibility for discovery and treatment of the disease is a mutual responsibility of both layman and doctor. He advised regular check-ups for people past 45 years of age, and immediate consultation with the family doctor if suspicious of any unusual growth or body function. There are seven common danger signs he said: any sore that does not heal: a lump or thickening in the breast or elsewhere; unusual bleeding or discharge; any change in a wart or mole; persistent indigestion or difficulty in swallowing; persistent hoarseness or cough; and any change in normal bowel habits.
Dr. Wood, who is vice president of the Merced County unit of the American Cancer Society, was accompanied to the luncheon by Maurice Bradley, Merced, president of the Society; A. Litchfield, Merced, immediate past president and member of the board of directors; and E. E. Greenough, Merced, who is 1954 chairman of the annual fund campaign. Each of the men spoke briefly concerning the work of the Society and urge public support of the fund drive, which will get underway shortly.
The group was introduced by Al Horrer, program chairman.
January 8, 1954

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