LUNG CANCER IN NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26987, 12 March 1953, Page 11

LUNG CANCER IN NEW ZEALAND

Increase In Deaths In 35 Years “HEAVY SMOKER HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE” (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 11. ine death-rate in New Zealand from cancer of the lung, or bronchus, had multiplied about 15 times among men and trebled among women over the last 35 years, said Dr. T. O. Garland, Director of Occupational Health, to a meeting of the Hutt Rotary Club today. “I am quite satisfied that if you are a heavy smoker, the chances of your contracting lung cancer are very much greater than if you are a light or nonsmoker, ’ he said. “The facts prove that the heavy smoker is hightly susceptible to lung cancer.” There had been a remarkable rise in deaths from lung cancer evident all over the world. In Britain lung cancers were a greater cause of death among men than tuberculosis. In the United States in 1948 about 17,000 people died from cancer of the lung, and in Britain in 1947 the number was 9287. In Vienna in 1948 30 per cent, of all male cancer deaths were caused by cancer of the lung. “It has been suggested that the rise in lung cancer is due to a corresponding increase in tobacco consumption,” he said. “I am satisfied that the evidence is overwhelmingly in support of this. Excessive smoking is one of the features of the businessman and professional worker who is overtaxed by his work. He seeks some escape from the high pressure of his job, and one of the escapes is excessive smoking.” Dr. Garland quoted figures of a study in Britain last year of lung cancer in relation to the tobacco consumption of the patients over the 10 years preceding the onset of the disease. Of the 1357 men lung cancer patients, seven were non-smokers, 55 smoked a daily average of fewer than five cigarettes. 489 smoked five cigarettes a day, 457 smoked 15 cigarettes, 393 smoked 25 cigarettes, and 38 smoked 50 cigarettes a day. Of 108 women lung cancer patients 40 were non-smokers, 16 smoked fewer than five cigarettes a day, 24 smoked five cigarettes, 14 smoked 15 cigarettes, and 14 smoked 25 cigarettes a day.

“These figures are to be interpreted as showing that a heavy smoker is highly susceptible to lung cancer,” he said. “They are not to be interpreted as showing that all lung cancers are caused by heavy smoking.” Other Agents There were other agents which could cause lung cancer. There had always been a high percentage of lung cancers among men who distilled coal tar, and among certain laboratory workers. Dr. Garland said that in the United States the tobacco plants had to be sprayed with lead arsenate to keep them healthy, and the arsenic was subsequently inhaled with the tobacco smoke. New Zealand tobacco had never needed spraying with lead arsenate.

“It is not claimed that arsenate is a cause of lung cancer,” he said. “The cancer may be caused by the breaking down of substances in the tobacco. Dr. Garland said he regarded heavy smoking as one of the behaviour patterns of the man in the hightension business, managerial, and professional worlds. The remedy was not to stop smoking, nor to treat the sympton; but to treat the occupation.