DEATH RATE FROM CANCER

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1938, Page 12

DEATH RATE FROM CANCER

NOT USUALLY ALARMING The Australian Medical Journal in a leading article says there is nothing unusually alarming about the death rate from cancer, and urges that the study of cancer, in common with researches into other diseases, should be conducted in an atmosphere of calm. < The journal quotes the annual report of the chief medical officer of the Ministry of Health of Great Britain, which points out that, the death rate from cancer in 1936 was 1.010 per million. a rise of 61 per million compared with the rate from 1901 to 1905. “While 1.010 died from cancer at ages unstated," the journal says, “at ages under 15 years 297 died from measles. 43 from scarlet fever, 318 from dipt her in. and 228 from whooping cough.

“When all diseases causing death under the age of 15 years are considered collectively it. is found that on an average 2,990 per million died each year in the 1901-05 period and 883 in the 19.31-35 period—a fall of 2,107 per million. "Obviously." the journal states, “the full effect of the saving of children’s lives between the years 1901 and 1936 has not seriously affected the figures for the cancer death rate; but the increase must take place." While admitting that money subscribed for cancer research is very useful for the equipment of laboratories which would languish in the absence of an emotional stimulus, the journal points out that the figures suggest that it would be more reasonable to devote funds for general medical research rather than for the investigation of specific diseases. “It is conceivable,” the journal states “that if the money which has been expended on the study of cancer had been used in general biological research and in the investigation of medical problems, more of cancer's secrets would have been revealed."