CANCER RESEARCH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 214, 24 August 1927, Page 4

CANCER RESEARCH

rpHE human suffering and mortality caused by cancer provided quite sufficient reason for a concentrated effort on tie part of physicians, surgeons, and scientists to discover both a cure and a preventive. For many years now the best brains .n all these circles have been lending themcelvcs to research and study towards the achievement of these ends. For a long time the problem proved an almost hopelessly baffling one, but with persistence and the provision of ampler funds and facilities for the prosecution of this great humanitarian task, light is beginning to show itself definitely through the clouds. The Lohdon “Times’’ in noting the recent issue of the Annual Report of the British Empirp Cancer Campaign, says it is a document fu" of encouragement for those who have anv considerable knowledge of the difficulties attending the study of malignant diseases. There is encouragement in the manner as well as in the matter of the Report, for it breathes throughout a spirit which may perhaps be tempered by optimism. but is never at any time injudicious o r careless. It would be difficult to over-estimate the value of such an attitude. Cancer research in the past has been hampered and weakened by that kind of enthusiasm which refuses to look facts in the face. It has fallen down again and again because theories were endowed with the importance of ascertained truth, or because generalizations were based on an insufficient number of observations. The British Empire Cancer Campaign is readv as its Report states, to investigate any discovery and to help any genuine worker in the field of cancer research; but it is not ready to espouse causes which rely on any other foundation than that of tho exact observations of men and women of pioved capacitv In other words it demands that each piece of research work shall be tested and tried according to the strictest laws of scientific investigation before it receives endorsement by the Cam paign. As is indicated in the Report, there are to-day a large number of theories about cancer of wfiich complete proof has not yet been adduced. Some of these theories may in process of time be substantiated: others are likely to be discounted. It is the duty of he British Empire Cancer Campaign ’-o maintain an attitude of detachment towards all these views and ideas, and to give its help impartially wherever help is likely to ho of benefit to the public. The difficulty of following such a course is great but it can be said with confidence that it is being successfully overcome. The Campaign hns won already the conndence of the medical profession and possesses to-day among its scientific advisers all the recognized authorities rLn't’T . r . esearch ■” the country, n-lio? tO ‘ 16 Pxlsterice of the Campaign. overlapping o f investigations is liemn reduced to the lowest possible limit, and co-operation between workers in various parts of the country i s being facilitated. Moreover. the publie infers m research is being stimulated and directed into useful channels Of the Fork itself it is possible now to speak hopefully. ') he cancer problem has not been solved, but knowledge about cancer is increasing— perhaps more rapidly than is knowledge about any other human affliction. This fuel deserves all the emphasis which is given to it in tho Report and fully .justifies the view expressed that an

eventual solution of the mystery of cancer is likely to be attained. The Report deals at length with the pioneer researches on the prevention of the growth of tumours by radium and X-rays which are being conducted. Generally speaking, it remains true that radiology is the handmaid of surgery in the treatment os cancer. The best hope of the victim of this disease is still treatment at the surgeon’s hands, and that hope, contrary to the general lielief, is substantial when the disease is attacked in its early stages.