Cancer

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29791, 6 April 1962, Page 3

Cancer

Sir, —I was interested in the letter from B M. MacLeod and feel that the reply by Mr Bennett was not really very helpful, I would like Mr Bennett to tell me why studies are not made of countries where cancer is unknown. Surely the key to the cause would then be found. Some months ago “Th® Press” published the story of a woman who had resided in Honzaland in Pakistan where cancer was quite unknown and where disease was hardly known at all and where commercial fertilisers were banned by law. I feel you would be doing your readers a great service if this wonderful story by Susan Vaughan was published again in glaring headlines.— Yours, etc., ANTI-ILLNESS. April 3, 1962. [Mr L. A. Bennett, chairman of the Canterbury-West Coast division of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, said: “While it is not possible to answer every question about cancer in a reply such as this, the matter is so important that I will attempt to help 'Anti-Illness’ and similar inquiriers. In

■ 19S8 63 countries were repreJ sented at the Seventh Interj national Cancer Congress. As l far as I know there is no : country (including Pakistan) ' where cancer is unknown. . Careful statistical and res search studies are going on t in all these countries, in- . eluding those in which the : appearance of cancer is less ■ common. In July I will be s attending the Eighth Inter- ; national Cancer Congress, ; and on my return to New r Zealand will give an account of matters raised in the above ! letter at a public meeting organised by the society.”]