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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