COMBATING CANCER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1930, Page 10

COMBATING CANCER

MEDICAL VIEWS

CONSULTATION COMMITTEES

JVHAT IS BEING DONE

Important meetings of medical men of the four chief centres of the Dominion will be held in Wellington during the next few days in connection with the cancer campaign. The following have arrived to take part in the meetings:—Sir Louis Barnett, Sir Lindo Ferguson, Dr. Newlands, Dr. Hercus, Dr. D'Ath (Dunedin), Dr. Acland, Dr. Billcliff, and Mr. Nowburg'h (Christchurch), Dr. W. H. Parkes (Auckland). Dr. J. S. Elliott and Dr. P. P. Lynch (Wellington) will also attend tho conferences.

The work of the cancer campaign in New Zealand, state the medical authorities, is an attempt to achieve what is already being done in the older countries of the world. The past few_ years have seen a number of advances in our knowledge of the nature and pathology of cancer, but the cause or causes are still unknown to us, and the prospect of a specific remedy for the disease appears at the moment to be as far off as ever. It is the difficulty of the recognition of the early case of cancer both by the patient and by his physician which is chiefly to blame for its high mortality. That surgery can cope with the disease in its early stages is abundantly demonstrated in many regions. The fact that from 70 to 90 per cent, of cases of breast cancer can be cured if operated upon during the early and local stage of the' disease is sufficient evidence of the truth of this statement. EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC. These are the facts which justify the campaign for the education of the public which is sponsored by all responsible todies- which have, for their object the control of cancer. The awakening of the public mind to the recognition of suggestive symptoms, and to the danger, of delay.is undoubtedly the first consideration. This education alone, however, will not solve the problem. An educated public has a right to demand an educated profession, and it is admitted that there are too manf practitioners who still follow the '/■wait and. see" policy, in a doubtful case, and thus permit the disease to extend from the favourable to the incurable stage. ALL RESOURCES REQUIRED. The fact is that cancer to-day is not a one-man job. It requires all the resources and all the professional talent of a large hospital to deal with the disease in itg many situations. This is clearly recognised in New Zealand; and in each of the four larger hospitals there are active cancer consultation committees on which specialists in all branches of medicine are represented. It is hoped through the operation of these committees to establish accurate and. early diagnosis, with 'a view to giving to each individual cancer patient the treatment, or tho combination of the methods of treatment, best suited to that individual ease. The system of consultation committees of medical specialists has been adopted by-the leading hospitals of the world, with admittedly excellent results. CANCER RESEARCH. One of the important matters to be discussed by the Central Committee meeting this afternoon will be the question of cancer research. New Zealand has been fortunate in obtaining the services of Dr. A. M. Begg, of the Stroude Cancer Research Laboratories, London. Dr. Begg is/carrying out his work in the laboratories of the Otago Medical School, where proper facilities for this work have been made available. Dr. Begg's researches will include a continuation of the investigations which he was making at the Stroude laboratories into the essential nature of cancer. In addition to this, he will investigate the action of some of the heavy metals, notably lead, on cancer cells. These investigations are of a laborious and intricate nature. The work of Dr. Begg in this respect is being done in co-operation with, and with the_ assistance of, the Stroude laboratories, and of the cancer research institutes throughout the world. In addition, Dr. Begg proposes to undertake certain work which has a more direct bearing on cancer treatment. He intends to investigate the varying effects of X-rays and radium upon the various types of cells which go to form malignant tumours. Thus it is hoped that New Zea-' land, by this process of co-operation, will be able to do work in. two direction?, namely:— ' (1) By the establishment of the cancer committees to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and. (2) By the carrying out of laboratory research to do our share in the investigation into the original cause of cancer. With regard to the cancer campaign in Wellington, it is proposed immediately to proceed to raise funds which are required as Wellington 's share of the work outlined above. The function which will inaugurate the campaign in Wellington will take place at 8.30 o'clock on Sunday evening next at the De Luxe Theatre. A UNIQUE FILM. Dr. D'Ath, professor of pathology at Otago University Medical School, will speak on the subject of cancer. At the conclusion of his address, the Dr. Canti film will be shown. This film has created an almost world-wido interest, and Sir Lindo Ferguson, Dean of tho Medical Faculty, . Otago University, was fortunate in being able to secure a copy from Dr. E. G. Canti, of tho Strangeways Research Hospital, Cambridge, and of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London. This film depicts in a most instructive .way tho growth of the normal cells of tho body and of cancer cells. The second part of tho film shows the effect which radium has upon normal cells and upon cancer cells. Ifc demonstrates how much more active radium is in its lethal effects upon cancer cells than upon the normal cells of the body. It is this effect which forms the basis of present day radium treatment oi! cancer. This film i. well worth seeing, and all persons interested in the subject should avail themselves of tho opportunity of seeing the film and hearing the explanation of Dr. D'Ath;