CANCER CAMPAIGN

Evening Star, Issue 23421, 11 November 1939, Page 20

CANCER CAMPAIGN

DANGER OF LOST INTEREST 508 GASES UNDER OBSERVATION [Peii United Peess Association.] WELLINGTON, November 10. The danger of the campaign for better treatment of cancer losing its effectiveness through Jack of interest and insufficient publicity was stressed by delegates to a. meeting of the Central Committee of the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign held this morning. The reports from centres showed that the number of persons submitting themselves for diagnosis had not increased, and a suggestion was made that this might be due to lack of knowledge regarding the facilities available at the clinics. Professor D’Ath said that there were 508 cases of malignant diseases under observation in Dunedin, and Sir Louis Barnett said that 1 ; 376 cases had attended the clinic since its inception, and of these only 30 had been lost sight of. He said that they must not allow interest in the campaign to wane. The work had been established on a routine basis and consequently too much was being left to the few who were willing. The new cases reported during the year were : Auckland ' 388, Wellington 214. Canterbury 168, Otago 150. The delegates agreed that each centre should be advised to take steps to correct any lack of interest that might have crept into the work.