RADIUM TREATMENT OF CANCER

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 200, 21 May 1936, Page 8

RADIUM TREATMENT OF CANCER

New Zealand Not Behind, WHAT IS BEING DONE IN AUSTRALIA Dominion Special Service. ' Auckland, May 20. The opinion that New Zealand was not behind Australia in the treatment ot cancer by radium was expressed by Dr. P. Clenneil Fenwick, of Christchurch, one of the New Zealand representatives at the seventh Australian Cancer Conference held in Melbourne recently, who arrived from Sydney by the Wanganella. Dr. Fenwick added further that New South Wales was ahead/of the Dominion in the X-ray treatment of the disease, as hospitals there had been equipped with more powerful apparatus, and better results would lie obtained than those which could be secured with the present apparatus in New Zealand. Referring bo the progress of the campaign against cancer, Dr. Fenwick stated that New Zealand had already adopted suggestions made at the last conference two years ago, and the organisation for fighting the disease in this country was very satisfactory. He had been able to tell conference delegates that New Zealand had already established a research laboratory at Dunedin, aud that valuable consultation clinics had been in operation in each of the four centres for five years. In this direction New Zealand was not behind Australia. The immense amount of research work being carried out in Melbourne and Sydney was commented upon oy Dr. Fenwick, who mentioned specially the work of Dr. Moppett in the medical research laboratory at the University of Sydney. He had devised a serological test for the deteebion of the presence of malignant disease which was very promising, and would, if confirmed, be of immense advantage to the medical profession in the early diagnosis of cancer. The manner in which hospital work in Australia was assisted by the various State Governments was also referred to by Dr. Fenwick, who said that the New South Wales Government was spending £250,000 in enlarging Prince Henry Hospital, while the Victorian Government had promised £60,000 toward the enlargement of the Austin Hospital for Cancer.

Describing the work of the Cancer Conference. Dr. Fenwick said it 'vas becoming more and more practical on each occasion. In Melbourne delegates were fortunate in being able to see actual treatment being carried out by leading specialists. He had come away with the hope that in three years’ time the conference might be held in New Zealand.