LUNG CANCER

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27274, 15 February 1954, Page 12

LUNG CANCER

Association Seen With Smoking

STATEMENT MADE IN COMMONS

(N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, February 12. A British expert committee has decided that there is a relationship between smoking and cancer of the lung, the Minister of Health (Mr lain McLeod) told the House of Commons today. He said the committee had issued this warning: “It. is desirable that young people should be warned of the risks apparently attendant on excessive smoking. It would appear that the risk increases with the amount smoked, particularly of cigarettes.” Mr McLeod said: “I accept the committee’s view that statistical evidence points to smoking as a factor in lung cancer, but I would draw attention to the fact that there is so far no firm evidence of the way in which smoking may cause lung cancer, or of the extent to which it does so.” The Minister said that research into the causes of lung cancer were being pressed forward by the Government in view of its increase. The committee, which the Ministry 0/ Health set up in 1948, has been investigating smoking and lung cancer for the last three years. The committee’s findings so far are: Tt must be regarded as established that there is a relationship between smoking and cancer of the lung. Though there is a strong presumption that the relationship is casual, there is evidence that the relationship is not a simple one.

The report stated that this was because: (a) Evidence in support of the presence in tobacco smoke of a carcinogenic agent causing cancer of the lung is not yet certain; (b) statistical evidence indicated that it is unlikely that the increase in the incidence of cancer of the lung is due entirely to increases in smoking; (c) the difference in the incidence between urban and rural areas and between different towns suggests that other factors may be operating—for example, atmospheric pollution and occupational risks.

No immediate dramatic fall in death rates could be expected if smoking ceased, since the development of lung cancer may be the result of factors operating over many years, and no reliable quantitative estimates can be made of the effect of smoking on the incidence of cancer of the lung. It was desirable, however, that young people should be warned of the risk apparently attendant on excessive smoking. Offer By Companies Mr McLeod said that before these recommendations were considered by the Government, the tobacco companies had offered to give £250,000 for research. “They have, on my advice, agreed to offer this money to the Medical Research Council,” he said. At a press conference, Mr McLeod said: “In view of the public interest and concern over this question, it is of very great importance that uninformed and alarmist conclusions should not be drawn from the committee’s advice. The qualifications mentioned by the committee should be fully realised.” The Minister said that deaths from lung cancer had been increasing since 1919. In 1952, 11,891 men and 2237 women died from the disease, representing 26 per cent, of all cancer deaths. The highest mortality rate occurred in men between 65 years of age and 74, and in women over 75. “It is certain that tobacco smoking cannot be the only factor, since the disease occurs in non-smokers,” said Mr McLeod. “Not one, but several factors, or a combination of factors, must be regarded as responsible. No substance producing cancer of the lung has yet been specifically identified in tobacco smoke. Certain tars derived from tobacco smoke have produced skin cancers in mice, but this is not considered as being conclusive evidence of the presence of a substance producing cancer of the lung?’ Statement By Firms Almost simultaneously with the Health Minister’s disclosures, Britain's big tobacco companies issued a joint statement, saying: “There is no proof that smoking is a cause of lung cancer. Investigations based on statistics can never do more than indicate one of the lines to be further investigated.” Tobacco shares were marked down sharply on the Stock Exchange in London, but most stockbrokers were confident the tobacco companies’ earnings should not be unduly affected and they expected the shares to recover later. Talks With U.S. Sir Harold Himsworth, secretary of the Medical Research Council, told reporters today that British doctors were exchanging research information with medical experts in many countries, including the United States, on cancer of the lung. He admitted that early diagnosis of the disease was difficult. “The number of victims cured by medical aid is very small,” he said. “In the majority of cases all the doctors can do is make the remaining part of life more tolerable. “Even if a man gave up cigarettes after smoking heavily for years he would not necessarily escape the disease,” he added. No estimate could be given of how many cigarettes could be smoked with safety each day, but if more than five cigarettes were smoked there was an association with lung cancer. Film of N.Z. Tour.— The Duchess of Gloucester, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the New Zealand High Commissioner (Sir Frederick Doidge) were in the audience at a London cinema last night at the showing of “Royal New Zealand Journey,” a colour film of the Queen’s tour.—London, Feb. 12. Atomic Expert in Canada.—Sir William Penney, the planner of Britain’s atomic tests in Australia last year, arrived in Toronto last night for defence talks.—Toronto. February 12.