CAUSE OF CANCER

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30158, 15 June 1963, Page 10

CAUSE OF CANCER

Hopeful Line Of Research

Research into the precancerous states found in some gynaecological conditions might reveal something about the cause of true cancer, said Sir Arthur Bell, president of London’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. in Christchurch yesterday. He is here on a tour sponsored by the British Council. “It might uncover the secret.” he said, “and that’s the object of the exercise.” The "exercise” concerns the smear-tests taken by doctors all over the world to

detect cancer of the neck of the womb. The Royal College hopes to integrate research into the matter and so study a lot of cases at the same time. The incidence is four in 1000.

“If we spot the pre-cancer-ous condition early enough we can lower the incidence and deal with what could become a preventable disease.” he said. “We don't know under what circumstances this state becomes cancerous. We want to know why it becomes cancerous; and why some precancerous states become cancerous and others don’t. We are still feeling our way.

“Some lines of research might lead to developments concerning the life histories of true cancer.”

Up to the time Sir Arthur Bell arrived in New’ Zealand he was known professionally as Mr A. C. Bell: only a week ago he learned that he had received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday honours list.