Cancer Immunisation Predicted By Doctor

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30451, 27 May 1964, Page 22

Cancer Immunisation Predicted By Doctor

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) CANBERRA, May 25. Production of a vaccination within a generation was a strong possibility, the director of the New South Wales Cancer Council, . Dr. K. Starr, said today. Dr. Starr said he expected real progress in cancer research in his lifetime. In years to come people would be able to receive immunisation against cancer just as they received their poliomylitis vaccination, he said. The most vigorous activity in the field of cancer research throughout the world at present was in the field of immunology. Some of the most outstanding discoveries in modern science had concerned cancer research, he said. In spite of the opinion of the popular press that the incidence of the disease was increasing, the mortality rate from cancer in Australia had not increased in 100 years. In the last century the rate had remained constant at 130 deaths in every 100,000 of the population, Dr. Starr said. However, the type of cancer affecting people had changed considerably. Until the 1920 s Australian cancer sufferers had mainly cancer of the mouth, throat or stomach. The highest male death rate now was among men suffering from lung cancer. The highest female death rate was among those suffering cancer of the breast or cervix. Dr. Starr warned that people with black moles should have them removed as soon as possible by a doctor. “If a mole is black there is a definite tendency for it

to become a cancerous mole,” he said. Dr. Starr said that a special Sydney research unit was ready for the critical stage of a project which hoped to identify people prone to cancer. To do this they were using an electronic computer. “We are trying to find out who are the 130 individuals in every 100,000 who will die of cancer,” he said. “When we determine this we will say these are the people who should not smoke, who should not go out in the sun or who should not have occupations taking them close

’ to tar, radiation and other hazards.” I Dr. Starr said-if the experi- ; ment to find the cancer susE ceptibles was successful, there i was a good chance of apply- > ing the same break-through to heart sufferers. ; Those prone to strokes also would be identifiable if the t project was successful. > Dr. Starr was speaking at ; the opening session of the annual conference of the > National Science Faculties ! Association in Canberra to- . day. ! The conference is being J attended by 120 delegates •'from Australian universities.