Cancer: Its Cause and Treatment, Volume 2 (of 2)Bulkley, Lucius Duncan
Science
Cancer: Its Cause and Treatment, Volume 2 (of 2)
Bulkley, Lucius Duncan
Cancer
CARCINOMA OF THE BREAST.—Of the 147 cases of carcinoma of the breast in
females the right breast was affected 64 times, the left breast 77
times, and both breasts 6 times. Of these cases 74 had never been
admitted to surgical operation; 59 had been operated on once, 12 twice,
1 three times, and 1 four times, with recurrence, or rather with
continued development of the disease. In 28 cases a surgical operation
was advised and performed by various surgeons, either before internal
treatment or after a trial for a greater or lesser period; in eight of
these it seemed wise to have an operation after a more or less faithful
trial of medical treatment. I may here remark that it is very difficult
to hold all patients firmly to the dietary and medical requirements
necessary to remove the disease, and many dropped off after a short
trial, while quite a number, 77, were seen only a few times or in
consultation, and were thus lost sight of. There were 101 married or
widowed females with cancer of the breast and 41 single, and 5 unknown.
The average age was almost 50.
The total number who were under dietary and medical treatment for a
sufficient time to form any judgment from, amount to 41, while a
considerable number are still under treatment and improving. It may be
noted that the first case of carcinoma I find recorded was on September
29, 1879, the second on October 31 of that same year. Many of the early
cases were noted accidentally, in patients coming for various diseases
of the skin.
Time does not permit my dwelling on many interesting points concerning
some of the cases represented in the foregoing table, but I want to
relate and present some cases illustrating the beneficial effect of
carefully directed treatment in this class of affections.
Before doing so, however, I want you to inspect a private patient, Mrs.
R. F. C., aged 50, who has only to-day for the first time come on from a
distant city for treatment, and has kindly consented to come before you,
veiled. The case presents many features well worthy of consideration,
and I hope on some future occasion to be able to report favorably
concerning her; although, as you see, it is quite an inoperable case, or
at least one in which the disease would certainly recur if treated with
the knife. The entire left breast is greatly enlarged, like half a
melon, hard, firmly attached, and with the axillary glands greatly
involved. It is interesting to know that she was first conscious of a
lump in the breast on September 1st, only thirteen weeks ago, and all
this has developed since. She presents the usual picture commonly seen
in these cases, namely, constipation, urine scanty and deficient in
solids, and the saliva acid. She still appears to be in robust health,
as is so common early in the disease.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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