ATTACK ON CANCER

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 15, 17 July 1937, Page 14

ATTACK ON CANCER

"MORE DEADLY ENEMY"

FAILURE TO SEEK ADViCE

FOOLISH CREDULITY

The report of the consultation committee of the honorary staff for the study of cancer cases at the Wellington Hospital, presented at the annual meeting of the Wellington branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society yesterday afternoon, showed that the total number of hew cases for the year was 253, the total number of new cases of malignant disease 225, and the total number of consultations 547, which did not include reports by letter nor visits of cases to the X-ray therapy department. Deaths from cancer totalled 152, new cases seen in the current year and already dead at- the close of the year was 7t>, and patients untraced numbered 31. As compared with previous years tnere was a decrease in the total number of consultations record-ed, the result of the expansion of the outpatients' activities of the X-ray, therapy department. By arrangement with the Wellington Hospital Board, the Wellington division of the society was responsible for the management and maintenance of the Radon plant. There was a steady increase in the demand for radon. During the year the services of a full-time nurse-technician had been available.

"What Sir Kingsley Wood calls this 'blot on our civilisation' can only be removed if sufficient funds are forthcoming to provide the most up-to-date methods of treatment, and to enable research work to be carried on unceasingly." said the chairman (Sir James Elliott),' in moving the adoption of the report.'

"Sir Kingsley Wood, Minister of Health, at a dinner given a few weeks ago by the British Government to the International Union against- Cancer, to which our society belongs, said: 'Devoted workers in almost every country in the world today were working steadily .and quietly in the attack on cancer. This disease is still one of the most deadly enemies of the human race. This work went into the common stock for the welfare not of one country or of one Continent, but of humanity. If the disease is caught in its early stages, and treated by surgery, by deep X-rays or by radium, it has shown a high recovery rate.'

"So far as treatment is concerned, the position 'is 'much more hopeful than at any time," said Sir James. "An even more deadly enemy than cancer is the nameless fear that causes people to destroy their hope of life by failing to seek advice, until .it is too ,late. The former Minister of Health in France said that he is optimistic because people are now losing their terror of a name, and seeking treatment early when the disease of cancer can in most cases be cured. . DIETING OF NO AVAIL. "It is deplorable that in New Zealand even one individual might be found who states that cancer can be cured by starvation or diet. The result of this treatment without exception in every case is to deprive the patient of any chance of recovery due to unnecessary delay. Treatment by diet of this disease has only one ending and that is the grave. If people are reported to recover by dieting it simply means that their disease, whatever it was, certainly was not cancer.

"There is a tendency for people generally to prefer belief in confident assertion, however wild, or in rumour rather than ;in proved fact. This credulity persists among civilised people and is not by any means confined to the uncivilised or to savages. As far as cancer is concerned, credulity is not merely a dangerous adventure, it is a form of suicide."

The income and expenditure account showed an excess of expenditure of £53 12s 2d.

Dr. T. D. M. Stout, seconding the adoption of the report, said that a considerable proportion of the patients were from country districts outside Wellington. There was no difficulty in getting them to return for further examination or treatment. The society was much more able to keep in touch with patients in this country than in the more densely-populated older countries. The results of the treatment during the year showed improvement. It was to be hoped that shortly further X-ray equipment would be available, enabling more frequent treatment of patients. A new lowvoltage plant was on order, and these two parts of equipment would enable fuller treatment. A fairly large staff, compared with other medical forms of treatment, was necessary, as the members of the staff could not be exposed continuously to the radiations for any length of time without being deleteriously affected in health. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted:— President, Sir James Elliott; honorary secretary, Dr. P. P. Lynch; honorary solicitor, Mr. A. K. S. Mackenzie; honorary auditors, Messrs. Watkins, Hull, Wheeler, and Johnston; general committee, the Hon. P. Fraser, the Mayor Of Wellington (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop), Messrs. C. M. Luke, J. W. Jack, J. Glover. A. E. Alleson, and Mrs. H. F. Hall; finance committee, Sir James Elliott, Mr. J. Glover, and Dr. P. P. Lynch.