CANCER RESEARCH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 93, 30 January 1934, Page 8

CANCER RESEARCH

MANY BRANCHES. SURGERY NOT ENOUGH. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, January 29. Observations on the discussions at the fourth session of the. Australasian Medical Congress, held at Hohart from January 14. to January 21, were given by Dr. J. A. Doctor, of Wellington, on his return by the Marania from Sydney. Dr. Doctor said that so much had to be done that each man coilo! only see and hear the work of his own section; but the general note struck seemed to be the sifting and reassembling of past knowledge rather than any startling prophecy of what the future of medicine might hold. The general symposium of cancer and cancer research was, from the public point of view, the moet interesting part of the conference While the .statistics furnished by Dr. Cuinpston, Director-General of Health lor the Commonmealth of Australia, were not cheering, the research work undo taken by men of clear and critical understanding was recognised, as was also the fact that in actual treatment, surgery alone did not hold tne iield but that the pathologist, the physicist the biochemist and the radium and X-ray experts should also decide as to what line of treatment would give most lasting, results. "With early diagnosis, treatment remains most hopeful," said Dr. Doctor. "In other departments the trend of opinion is that many troubles which some years ago surgery alone could help are now amenable to less heroic measures, but that,, when surgery is indicated, it should be entirely adecruate. "The person concerned rather tlian the disease diagnosed seems to be rightly becoming the basis of all treatment."