CANCER TREATMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 113, 9 April 1930, Page 13

CANCER TREATMENT.

MANY PATIENTS CURED. - Dr. Arthur Burrows, the Commonwealth’s radium adviser, presented statistics to the recent cancer conference at Canberra, showing that for the twelve months ended June JO, 1929, no fewer than 2500 sufferers had ’ been treated at various centres in Australia with the radium purchased by the Commonwealth Government. Of these —the majority • of whom were inoperable —the general opinion was that about 500 will be permanently cured, and about 1200 will have their sufferings alleviated to a greater or less extent. It might thereforo be concluded that the Commonwealth’s radium experiment had been justified, and the opinion of- the conference was that, as further experience is gained, improved results can .be expected. In regard :to the treatment work undertaken by the University of Sydney, as trustees of the Cancer Fund subscribed by the public of New South Wales three years ago, and .in cooperation with the Federal Department of Health, the Latest information was tabled; 'At > Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, during the last 20 months, more than 1500 patients attended the Cancer Clinic for diagnosis, drafting for treatment after . examination by specialists, arid following up tho results of - treatment, whether by sur'gery, deep X-r.ay tlxerapy, radium, cr other methods. Over 9000 attendances of outpatients were recorded, apart from the indoor"-operative work. • - - At St Vincent’s Hospital, which is about half the size ,of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital,' .arid where,- the 'cancer clinic began work some months later, some 350 patients have been similarlyreviewed, involving about 3000 outpatient attendances, apart, . again, from the indoor surgical work. It was pointed out that there had been delay in establishing a clinic at Sydney Hospital'owing to the lack of accommodation, but that, in the expectation of

the completion of the new wards, the Cancer Research Committee of the University was making provision for the supply of deep X-ray therapy machinery, and, by arrangement with with the Federal authorities, for a considerable augmentation of tire stock of radium already possessed by the hospital. In the near future, therefore, three of tho leading , hospitals connected with the University will be as well equipped for modern cancer treatment as the best of similar institutions in different parts of the world. Committees of experts —physicians, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, etc.—selected from the honorary medical staff of the hospitals meet regularly at the clinics for the examination of a large number of cases presenting themselves, and for consultation as to the treatment of individual patients. Medical visitors from the other Australian States and New Zealand, as well as England and America, have expressed their unqualified approval of this system, which, loads to a balanced opinion as to the method or combination of methods to be employed- in every case. Many -thousands of pounds have been expended by the University Senate in providing staff, equipment and laboratories for research, and apparatus and specialist treatment officers, in addition to tho honorary consultants. On December 31, .1929, the Cancer Fund stood,- in round figures, at £IOO,000, and during the present year heavy expenditure; in further and .most necessary expansion of the Cancer Research Committee’s work is anticipated. The University . has put its hand to the plough, and cannot look back.