The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, March 21, 1945. PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 2.

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1945, Page 4

The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, March 21, 1945. PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 2.

Regulation of social life by the State probably was extended in no. previous century to so great an extent as already it has been during the present century. The consequence is a collateral enlargement of governmental responsibility as regards not only the subsistence, but also the health, of the whole community. In that development this country has possibly been in the very forefront, its national health services being certainly second to none, if equalled by any other. Co-operation on the people’s part has been in most cases beyond question, bur not in all respects. The Department of Health, in addition to all of the hospital and medical benefits provided, which are so readily being utilised, has righty conceived the scope of its responsiblity and initiative not to be re-' stricted purely to curative activity. Through the agency of the press, radio and other publicity, it has sought public co-operation in action for the prevention of illness. Mere economy in health administration would be for this an ample justification, but the policy undoubtedly is inspired far more by a humane consideration. At the present time the particular object in view of the Department is a campaign against cancer, a disease which, perhaps, more than any other calls for initiative on the part of the individual in realising this idea of co-operation. For several reasons, it is a disease to -the full seriousness of -which the public in general is less alive than to that of others not so grave, nor so widespread. Ono reason may be that its incidence is rather later in life than that of some others. Another is the aforementioned ignorance, a characteristic which might be thought, to arise from a. degree of mystery in which the disease had for a long time remained, even in the realm , of medical science. There even may still remain a deal of doubt as to the causes of cancer, but there remain no doubts what-' ever regarding the effects of cancel-. In New Zealand, -with a single exception, there is no disease the effects of which are so fatal as of this one. There are oilier ailments, less serious, it is true, which, remain no less a mystery than cancer, one being' the common cold, for which anybody is apt to try any and every sort of remedy—especially those which are pleasant to the palate. But the Health Department points out that in the case of cancer sufferers. four out of evert' five pr< - fer to seek no remedy whatever until the danger signals can no longer be ignored, either because they do not think them serious, or fail to recognise their significance. In the absence of any definite pain the majority of incipient. sufferers prefer to imagine there is not anything serious the matter, whereas the painful stages are those only when the disease is well developed and is spreading. The Health Department has been advertising- some particulars of the early symptoms, which are recognisable by anyone, but any uncertainty is readily ended if its advice is followed to obtain examination .and, where necessary, early treatment. It is. above all things, to be noted that the worst possibe attitude is a fatalistic one. The day has passed when any lay person could pretend that the disease is incur-, able. The experience of the medical profession is that early treatment is reducing the death rate. Doctors are reducing the proportion of fatal cases very appreciably by enterprise and energy in the work of diagnosis, and also by inducing patients to have adequate treatment. In some classes of cases where treatments are early, those treatments in the Dominion show twenty-five per cent, of an improvement. The reason whv cures are not more, numerous is that coses are not being reported iii time. In the United States, early treatment results in from three to eight times as manyi cures as in"the cases where it is; late The Department insists that the public must realise the neces- 1 sity of educating itself in the

matter if the campaign to mitigate the evil of cancer is to be effective. Thorp now are in the four chief centres cancer clinics, which meet each week at stated times, and a panel of doctors and specialists, comprising the best professional advice, examine the patients, and prescribe the treatment which they regard as most effective for the individual. Tt behoves people to regard with a due sense of responsibility their own individual cases, and if they have suspicions, they should check up without delay. The clinics mentioned enable this to be done thoroughly and confidentially. The Health Department has exert, ed itself in educating the public regarding diet, and also precautions regarding less serious ailments, but in this instance the first essential, where there are symptoms or suspicions, is expert examination. This is obtainable of any doctor, and the next step might be consultation with a clinic.