CANCER CAMPAIGN

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 6, 6 July 1935, Page 7

CANCER CAMPAIGN

PROGRESS OF THE WORK

DR. ELLIOTT'S REVIEW

WELLINGTON EFFORT

A review of the progress being made in the fight against cancer was given by Dr. J. S. Elliott, president of the Wellington Division of the New Zealand Branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, at the annual meeting of the division yesterday afternoon. "Not so very long ago cases of cancer were considered hopeless even by the medical profession, but those days have passed," said Dr. Elliott. "Very advanced cases still appear, in spite of all education, and they are still hopeless, but, omitting these, 50 per cent, five-year cures are commonly obtained in cancer of the. large intestine, and, in some series of cases, in cancer of the breast. "The cancer campaign began in New Zealand only in 1929, and created a revolution in the care, study, and treatment of cancer patients, with steadily improving results. Nearly 5000 cancer patients in New Zealand have been under the supervision of the society. Investigation goes on intensively throughout the world today, and, not least, in the British Empire, and at least partial solution of the problem, laccording to many authorities, cannot be much longer delayed. The pieces now are being gradually put together as in a huge jigsaw puzzle. '"Our society is greatly cheered at

present in the gracious wish of the King, approved by the New Zealand Government, that the Royal Jubilee gift from the people of New Zealand should be handed over for our purposes, and although times are bad, the response has been generous. The response from Wellington was better than from all the rest of New Zealand. "We support a very active cancer research laboratory in Dunedin, and our director of research (Dr. A. M. Begg) in his bi-annual report now to hand shows work in various directions; some of it of positive, and much at present necessarily of negative value. For instance, as cancer is rare in »the small intestine, Dr. Begg has tried juices and extracts from this part of the bowel as an inhibitory agent against cancer. Conversely, he has used phosphatase, a ferment active in breaking down sugar, to see if it is a cancer excitant in animals, for it is known that the metabolism of sugar occurs excessively in cancerous growths. He has also a hopeful research in hand on the assumption that cancer cells may only become invasive because of other cells failing in an effective resistance, in other words, the cells that cause invasion are not the invading cells. There is, moreover, a serum that causes destruction of tumour cells in animals, and there 'is good hope that the active substance of this- serum may be applicable to1 the treatment of human beings. WORK AT CLINIC. "The Wellington Cancer Clinic held 49 meetings this year, averaging about fifteen patients at each meeting, a total of 745 consultations, with 480 cancer cases on the books and also 40 proved non-cancerous. The Wellington Clinic has carried out a special study this year of 108 cases of a certain form of internal cancer. Similar investigations on other forms of cancer have been undertaken by the

other divisions of the New Zealand Branch. The records of our clinic are in good order, and await the work of a statistical research scholar soon to be appointed. There will be additional expenditure for clerical assistance, and also for a new applicator containing radium for special work. Costly apparatus for deep X-ray treatment is also required. "A radium emanation plant on a large scale is in regular use, and is controlled by Mr. Strong; our research physicist, who has reported oh the Xray apparatus used in treatment in New Zealand and has measured the delivery of kilovoltage of these machines. He is to report to the New Zealand Government in future, as well as to our society, and he will' extend his valuable work. "We receive more than one full report a year in advances in other countries, and so not only keep up to date, but co-ordinate our work with thajt done in other places. This result is obtained because our enthusiastic and voluntary workers at their own expense from time to time leave New Zealand to study the methods of similar organisations in Great Britain, Europe, and America. This year we have had full reports and srecommendations from Dr. Moran and from Dr. de Monchaux. Dr. P. P. Lynch and Dr. Eugene Lynch, of our division, are now abroad and will soon report." A WIDE AREA. Reference to tne work being done at the consultation clinic at the Wellington Hospital was made by Dr. T. D. M. Stout, chairman of the committee carrying out the work. He said that cases from the middle district of New Zealand were referred to the committee, the district extending as far north as Gisborne, and embracing the northern part of the South Island. The cases were coming in larger numbers,' and there was a tendency for the work to increase. The cases were carefully

checked, records kept, and they were followed up so that a complete check could be made in so far as the treatment was concerned. There was no difficulty in getting the patients to report. Naturally, the more severe cases were referred to the clinic. The work being done was of great benefit to the patients, and next year it was hoped to show more improvement in the results obtained. Mr. F. Castle, chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board, expressed the board's appreciation of the work being done by the honorary staff at the clinic. Patients were receiving skilful treatment. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Dr. Elliott was re-elected president. The committee was re-elected, with the following additions: Misses P. and E. Myers, and Mesdames Knox Gilmer, W. E. Herbert. 3nd Morgan.