TREATMENT OF CANCER

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28414, 22 October 1957, Page 11

TREATMENT OF CANCER

Centralisation Advocated (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 21. Centralisation of the radiotherapy and surgical treatment of cancer patients from a wide area in one hospital is advocated by a leading English radiotherapist, Dr. J. R. Paterson. Doctors from this central hospital should conduct diagnostic clinics in smaller centres, he said. Dr. Paterson is director of radiotherapy at Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute at Manchester, where his wife, Dr. Edith Paterson, is in charge of research. They will be in Auckland for a week before leaving for Australia and will have talks with Auckland radiotherapists and give lectures to doctors. Dr. Paterson said the centralised treatment service from Christie Hospital covered 4,000,000 people. Each month 40 clinics were held in other centres, but all patients were sent to Manchester for treatment. “Part of our success is due to this centralisation.” he said. Dr. Paterson said that of all cancer patients. 40 per cent survived for five years or , more, thanks to improved treatment. For cases detected in the early stages of the disease, the survival rate was well over 60 per cent. Dr. Paterson, who is also interested in public education, said small group lectures were the most effective in educating the public.