TREATMENT OF CANCER

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26515, 1 September 1951, Page 6

TREATMENT OF CANCER

PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN ORGANISED

EARLY DIAGNOSIS URGED ON SUFFERERS The records of all clinics last year showed the distressing effects of delay in seeking diagnosis and treatment of cancer, said Mr L. A. Bennett, chairman of the Canterbury, Marlborough, and Westland division of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, at the annual meeting of the division in Christchurch yesterday. Mr Bennett said a suggestion that an attempt. to alter this state of affairs by an educational campaign on a national basis had been the natural outcome, and it was not long before the executive and finance committee of the division had proposals for a campaign placed before it by Mr W. M. Cotter, chairman of the Christchurch Cancer Consultation Clinic.

It was recognised that there were a number of difficulties to overcome, and that a number of objections might be raised by other divisions of the society, or by the medical profession, Mr Bennett continued. Not the least of these was the danger that, by conducting a campaign which brought the subject of cancer frequently before the public, people might be made “cancer-conscious” unnecessarily. In spite of this and a numbel of other difficulties, a plan had been prepared, and on instructions of the executive of the Canterbury division, it was submitted to the central committee in Wellington, said Mr Bennett. There it was decided that the Canterbury division should make a detailed report to a subsequent meeting of the Cancer Campaign Society. This was done last February in Christchurch, and so sound were the proposals that Canterbury was entrusted with the preparation of the material of the campaign. Mr Bennett said the advertisements now appearing in newspapers were only part of the campaign. In addition, all members of the medical profession received details of the incidence of each type of cancer before the particular form' of malady was brought to the attention of the public. "At the conclusion of the present series of notices it is proposed to issue a booklet to all householders in New Zealand which will reproduce in a form which can be kept permanently, the information now being given in the daily and weekly newspapers,” he said.

“The proposals do not stop there,” continued Mr Bennett. "Members of the medical faculty of Otago University have under consideration the preparation of information for medical men, of a more technical character. "Finally, it must be realised, that such a campaign cannot be a shortterm one. Those interested in this campaign know that improvements in the resu’ts of the treatment of cancer can only come if everybody realises the truth of the statement that most forms of cancer can be cured if they are treated early. They know, too, that it will take perhaps several years for the effects of this fight against cancer to be felt.” Mr Bennett said that later all the present methods of disseminating information would be repeated and supplemented with the Health Department’s assistance, by radio talks and films. The campaign would continue for several years.