CANCER SCARE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 5 August 1925, Page 3

CANCER SCARE.

NO ALARMING- INCREASE. POSITION IN DOMINION. Something of a- scare about the reported rapid spread of cancer in New Zealand lias been in evidence of late, but that the picture lias been painted in blacker colours than the actual posi_ tion warrants was made abundantly clear by tho Director of Public Hygiene of the Health Department. “Statistically there is evidence- to show that the apparent increase of cancer during the last half-century is largely due to more careful and better methods of diagnosis and death certification, hut despite cancer our death rate continues to decline, although cancer causes approximately one-tenth of our annual deaths,” ho remarked when interviewed by a Dominion reporter. “We must not exaggerate (lie true position,” which is not so bad as people are apt to Imagine,” ho went on to observe. “The -publ-ie is apt to gain the impression that cancer is increasing at an alarming rate every year, but the actual position is that the increase during the past ten years has been comparatively steady. It lias to be borne in mind that cancer is a disease which mostly only' attacks people over thirty-five years of age, and we are all getting older every year ; but even so the figures do not show an alarming increase in the number of deaths from this disease during the past decade.” The following table shows the number of deaths from cancer and the percent, age per 10,000 of living persons in 'the Dominion during the past ten years:

“It will be seen that the death-rate from cancer per 10,000 of living persons continues to increase,” stated the Director. “This is true in all civilised countries, but whether there has lieen a real or only mu apparent increase re_ mains to he considered. Cancer is almost wholly a disease of middle or late life, and the span of a man’s life is steadily lengthening, particularly in New Zealand—that is to say, he is being saved from typhoid, tuberculosis, and other diseases to die later of cancer.

“Statistical inquiry is steadily increasing and improving also. Registrars make inquiries of medical practitioners regarding obscure death certificates, and many deaths have been assigned to cancer which, in former years, would have been placed under other headings. In spite of cancer, our general death-rate continue to decline, hut the disease nevertheless accounts for one-tentli of our annual deaths, and every 7 available means should- he taken to ensure prompt and skilful treatment.

“Tli 0 nature and causation of most varieties of this disease are still obscure, but efficient treatment lies in early diagnosis and immediate treatment by radium, Rontgen rays, or oper. atToh. The recent discovery of Dr. Gye and Dr. Barnard at Home with regard to cancer is of the greatest interest, and it is to be hoped that the results obtained from the information they have disclosed will materialise.”

Deaths. Oereentage 1915 990 8.19 19 90 1099 8.79 199:1 1115 8.75' 1994 i 945 9.59