FIGHT AGAINST CANCER.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 261, 4 November 1929, Page 8

FIGHT AGAINST CANCER.

NECESSITY OF RESEARCH. EARLY TREATMENT URGED. "Unless something be done, between two and three hundred of this audience is doomed to die of cancer," said Dr. Kenneth Mackenzie, in' opening his address under the auspices of the New Zealand Association for the advancement of Rationalism, at the Majestic Theatre last evening. The theatre was crowded, and many hundreds were unable to gain admittance. Dr. Mackenzie went on to show by means of a chart that the incidence of the disease was steadily on the increase during the past 40 years, and now accounted for more deaths than tuberculosis. Very little was known of the disease beyond that it was an abnormal growth in the cells of the body. In the first instance it was invariably a local disorder, but by breaking and destroying the cells it gradually spread into the vessels and organs, ultimately causing death of the subject. A number of theories as to the cause of cancer had been put forward, but nothing had yet been proved. It was known, however, that certain local affections had specific causes, and he instanced cancer of the skin amongst Indians, who carried baskets of hot charcoal on their bodies, of the mouth amongst smokers, and on the exposed parts of necks and arms of outdoor workers under the Australian sun. Evidently heat irritation was one cause. There was nothing definite to show that concer was connected with diet, although the Japanese, who subsisted largely upon raw vegetables, rarely contracted tumours. As to the possibilities of cure, Dr. Mackenzie said that cancer was definitely curable in its very early stages and without much pain, if inan accessible place. High percentages of cures were effected in cases of cancer of the lip, skin and breast. The various methods of treatment were then dealt with, particularly the success of radium in early stages. Dr. Mackenzie stressed the difficulty of research by the physician. Cases treated by him passed out of his hands, whereas the subsequent history of all such cases should be followed up and recorded. For this purpose he hoped that before long an association would be formed for the express purpose of undertaking this work. There was an immense field for such investigation in this country, and with the alarming increase in the mortality rate from this scourge, it was essential that this matter be taken up at once by the people themselves. A society for this purpose is in existence, and New Zealand should co-operate by forming a branch. Mi*. C. E. Major was in the chair, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded ' Mr. Mackenzie for his instructive fj| address,