WOMEN WARNED.

Grey River Argus, 3 November 1928, Page 3

WOMEN WARNED.

CANCER OPERATIONS. T.ONDON. September 7. The extent to which successful operations might be perfonned upon women sufft ring from cancer if only the deetor was consulted at a sufficiently early stage of he disease is emphasi ed by Sir George .'<■ wmaiy chief medical officer to the Ministry of Health, in his preface to a report of the Miristrv, out this week.

“Tap prime need for reducing mottalitv.” lie declare.**, “i* not extended hospital ccommoda ion, not improved methods of treatment, nor even diagnosis. but a full' r realisation on thc part, of the public and perhaps of the medical profession of the nece sity for early advice and treatment. D ■ lay spells disaster.” The repoit deals V.ith the r< suits of operations for cancer of the breast, being an analysis of 2000 cases which occurred in the practice of the general hospitals of eight county boroughs of England and Waits during the period 1910-4921. The primary object of the investigations was t > e>certain t he results of operations in rela .on to the stage ’of disease at the time uf opt ration and the type <.f tumui’.r. /Of these prin ci pal subjects.” says Sir George, “t'u type of growth r.r, usually is clas-'ifi. <1 has a; pareiu.iy least influ nee on the success or otherwise uf the operation. Though minor differences occur, their effect is small compared wit.!; that of the other two factors. The stage of the. disease at which the operation is undertaken and the completeness with which it is ip- Tmed ar'i of outstanding importance in securing the best results, and of the two priority should be gi*rfr to"tfie former. a late stage,it is in most cases

true that n » operation however cxI tensive will completely indicate the j • isease. On th other hand there are indicate ns that if th growth is very r. st r ; ‘ te.l the <■ s complete operation . may be successfu'. The all important factor in succe s, them fore, is that the treat nr mt should be :ij»pli<*d in the earliest passible stage. As shc.wn in the ieport the percentage of survivals I' > i'..» years when trc;;t ,, d- in this stage .• o th* <>t’ e- hand, when the disc- s • has spr.a<l the corresponding ’ persontag • falls to 13. • ‘ '1 h • quest’on naturally arises, what propo.tii.n of sufferers from v.<ncer of tie breast undergo tr atn.cnt at this favou 1 . able stage? This a::not be o .timetcd. because we <li» ‘ not know what proportion of all natients atte id hospital. W’e do know however, that of those undergoing ojvrative treatin'nt treatment at h0..-pita’s, not more than 25 per cent lc s» in this early stage. ‘‘Why does such a small proportion of women fall wifTiin this category It is not because the disease advances rapidly, but because patients, although awari that, something is wrong delay s-'ieking treatment. The average interval allowed to elapse, even in these early cases, between first noticing the "e. mid it ion and seeking the treatment,”"is, w. > find, as much as

seven months. The corresponding ’. » terval- for ail patients umbig'iug ‘ operation is, of course greater. BEST CHANCE OF CUKE “It is my duty to draw particular attention to the main lesson of the r-* port from the public health stand--1 pf/int. It is not a new one having already been emphasised in ' arlier re--1 ports and in official circulars. Under present conditions, the prime need in reducing mortality from this form of cancer is not extended hospital accommodation, not improved methids of treatment, nor even diagnosis; n •s a fuller realisation on th part of the public as a whole and p rhaps of the medical profession, that a lump in the breast of a woman adult calls for diagnosis ami treatment withe ut avoidable delay. “We hope that advances in m dic/.U science wi.ll. in th,' future, lead to the suppression of operative, by some less distasteful method of treatment. but for the present surgical operation gives the best ehanee of cure. “The avoiable delay and effective treafment forms in itself an interesting and important study, (dearly, i.‘ all patients underwent radical operation at an early stage cf the disease - the present rate 'of mortality would ‘ be considerably reduced. Bv.t we also want to know more of its degr c and

of its causes. Of the causes for the delay we know little. Many have been suggested —ignorance of the »m portance <,f th- condition, fear if ha».i:g suspicion confirm’-d, dread of c.perr.tion. in'ert-. rencc with domestic and social duties. I’nancinl .osS, a natur. i ten lency t'» procrastination, but of th *se it is fur from clear w’-Ncn « f i‘. se arc the most potent factors alia to what extent they are removable. These ami similar milters i'» respect to ranccr are the subj ct of further inquiry.