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APPENDIX L

 

“ENCEPHALOID” CANCER OF THE BREAST

 

SINCE the earlier printed pages of the book were passed for the press, further particulars of this case have come into my hands. On p. 4 the case was cited—and this citation still holds good—as one of cure, by the enzyme treatment, of cancer of the breast. The history is as follows: In September, 1908, a cyst was removed by a York F.R.C.S., and, on microscopical examination by a Leeds pathologist, the diagnosis of “ encephaloid car­cinoma” was given. Further operation was refused by the patient. The enzyme treatment was commenced in December, 1908, and the reactions were very pronounced, even on occasion to 125 tryptic units. Apparently, the tumour masses became encapsulated in dense fibrous tissue, and treatment, until September, 1909, only made them harder. In November, 1909, these hardened “lumps” were removed—by a complete Halstead opera­tion—by a Newcastle surgeon. “The tumour,” he said, “was different from any cancer of the breast he had ever seen. He called it a ‘scirrhus.’ That is, under the influence of this enzyme treatment, the soft, brain-like cancer had become a hard cancer or scirrhus! In plain English, the soft cancer, as a cancer, had vanished, and its remains had become densely encapsulated. In my scientific opinion, the second (radical) operation was un­necessary. To-day, in the opinion of the treating sur­geon, “ the induration was the natural cure after the liquefaction of the cancer-cells, and the glands were cured of the disease, not infected with it.”

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