RAVAGES OF CANCER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 218, 15 September 1930, Page 8

RAVAGES OF CANCER.

"FATALISM" NOT JUSTIFIED. AIM OF BIG CAMPAIGN. ENCOURAGING. STATISTICS. " 'Cancer fatalism,' or the belief that anyone stricken with the disease' must die, is not justified," said Mr. Kenneth Mackenzie, chairman Of the Auckland committee of the New Zealand division of the British Empire .Cancer Campaign, speaking at the Majestic \ Theatre last evening, on, ."The Part -of the .Public: in the: Fight Against Cancer." The lecture was! given ■ under., the • auspices of the Rationalist Association. : Mr. Mackenzie explained that the campaign aimed, at giving the public a truer recognition'of the nature of cancer, and the need of treatment in' the early stages. The statistics of the treatment of cancer were more encouraging than thei public generally believed. Statistical research 'by the' British" Ministry of Health showed : that a great number of cases cotild be-_ cured, and , were cured, through treatment- in -the early -stages. In cases in which: the. disease, when first seen- by a. doctmy was - entirely confined to; the breast, between .70 and 80 ■ per cent of the sufferers were free from cancer five years after • the operative or other treatment had . been ; undertaken. In eases where the disease, had spread from the breast,- before treatment was commenced, however, . only 20 per: cent of the patients, survived at: the end of the same.:period. • Those, facts were, sufficient to dispose of "cancer fatalism." . , Higher Rate Than Eyer Before. The, latest. figures issued by .the Government Statistician shovved that in. the Dominion the rate had reached a higher point than ever before, said the lecturer, and those in. control ~ of ..the Campaign were animated, by. the realisation of this mortality rate. The actual cause was still a matter for, research, but the medical profession believed that .better use than in the past could, be made of the facts already obtained. Some forms of cancer were due to irritation, or followed certain other diseases, often after several years, .It Was believed that -the application ofthat knowledge would enable a considerable :number of casps of cancer to be prevented, and;the fund now

;being raised in Auckland would be largely devoted to that purpose. , The . aim was to raise some thousands of pounds in Auckland city and province, and the local • organisation was practically committed to contributing 20 per cent of the amount to the New Zealand central fund. The use of that percentage would be determined by the Dominion executive,, on which the four.;. provinces were equally represented. A certain amount would be used for research work "at the Otago University, but many of the medical men thought that that was inadvisable and that research would be better left to tlie great institutions in the older and larger countries. The compilation of statistics of cases cured would be an important work to be undertaken by. the central executive. Statistics were essential in the fight against cancer. . - - i ■■ ;• •. - ■ - , Local Use of Fund. : ■ , . Of the, fund collected in Auckland, SO per cent would remain for application to the direct needs of the province. Medical men, specialising in. thc\ different branches of treatment, had studied all cases in the Auckland Hospital for a year past, and it was, believed that that had enabled a definite advance to be made towards better diagnosis and treatment. A good deal of clerical work was required to. compile the records as fully as was desired and it was hoped to organise a branch .which would keep records of. all cases of cancer presented at the hospital, so that full information as to the results of treatment would be available. -A certain amount of money was necessary for that side of the work. / The provision of ihorc adequate means of special treatment also deserved attention. That applied specially,to radium. There was a certain amount at the hospital, .but not enough, and it was not made up in a sufficient variety of forms to give the best, usage in accordance .'with' modern methods.