THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1930. WAR ON CANCER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20656, 30 August 1930, Page 10

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1930. WAR ON CANCER.

For a period of three months, begining on Monday next:, Auckland is expected to make a strategic advance, in its sector of the New Zealand front, on a foe that has been mercilessly hammering on the health of the world for a long time. That foe is cancer. The threat it unceasingly makes is too terrible to be treated lightly. Its awful havoc in this country increases year by year. The annual death rate of this disease has risen until it registers over 10 per 10,000 of the population. One, at least, in every thousand is therefore marked as a victim each year. The incidence of the disease is such that persons over forty years of age are specially liable to contract it. In this Dominion last year, of all deaths registered of persons over that age, one in every seven males, and one in every six females, were slain by cancer. It requires little thought on these significant figures to appreciate the ravages of this scourge in this country. There has been sadly impelling reason for the Dominion's exerting itself to co-operate in the anticancer campaign. What is being done here in this way has the advantage of being part of a general British movement. There is placed at the disposal of New Zealand a vast amount of information concerning general results of research and means to combat the scourge, and the Dominion's share of the fight has inspiration and guidance from the outer British world. On its part, the Dominion can do much to aid the general campaign, for it has its own opportunity of collecting statistics, conducting research and instituting clinics of observation and treatment. To bear its share of the effort is a plain duty. The Empire Cancer Campaign Society is now represented in every district of the Dominion. All the other districts have made their special appeal for campaign funds. Now this citv and province are called upon. The response, although behind in time, ought not to be behind in amount.

The particular object of the appeal should be clearly understood. It is not to raise funds for purely laboratory research. That very important. part of the war on cancer is being undertaken by special means. Thanks to the generous gifts made by certain individuals and the co-operation of the Otago University Council, this expert laboratory research is being conducted in Dunedin, and it will be remembered that Dr. Begg, after eight years of technical experience in the Imperial Cancer Research Laboratory in London, returned recently to the Dominion to take charge of this branch of investigation. Tt is encouraging to know that he, is proceeding on lines approved by those most highly skilled. All that is at present known about degenerated cells and tissues is at his command, and there should result from his work in this sphere something of value in tracking the microscopic arising and development of (lie disease. Thus the Dominion's laboratory advance will be linked with attempts made elsewhere to unriddle the secret of cancer, so long vexing the medical scientist. A far wider aim, and one at least as important in a scientific and practical way, is in view iri the appeal now made for public interest and help. Without a considerable amount of field work, the war on cancer must fail. In six defined ways the wider effort is to be made. They are (I) treatment and relief of local patients, (2) consultation clinics, (.'0 provision of radium, (I) follow-up work and recording. (5) compiling of statistics, and (6) directing publicity and education.

A careful scrutiny of these six definite activities reveals the fact that, they cover the whole field of a very practical enterprise. In the forefront of them is placed remedial work. This at present is beset by many difficulties. Cancer is a notoriously insidious disease. Too often its presence is unsuspected, and even when suspected it is reluctantly acknowledged as a possible explanation of ill-health. Fear of painful, perhaps perilous, and usually expensive surgical operation deters prompt seeking of medical advice. To meet and overcome this hampering condition of things is an urgent necessity. Hence it is desirable that in every populous centre there should lie a clinic lo which sufferers may have easy access, and where those whose financial straits preclude their seeking medical assistance in the

ordinary way may attend without prohibitive charge for examination. The provision of these clinics should go far to check the ravages now wrought with little hindrance. The need for follow-up and recording work is just as imperative. Experience proves that relief often falls short of cure for lack of attention after remedial means have lieen applied with some success. There is also to he gained, in this connection, a store of valuable information about the symptoms and progress of the disease, as well as knowledge concerning the efficiency of remedial measures. fn the acquisition of a supply of radium, now known to have very beneficial uses, there is a further opportunity of widely applying these measures, and the importance of statistical information, gained through clinical work, is obvious. Add to this the need of making helpful information about the incipience of cancer well known, and the equal need of training the public in precautions and treatment, and there is abundant justification for a resolute effort to raise funds. Without money, the campaign can do nothing well ; with it, given the wise direction of expenditure that is now assured, a very appreciable amount of good can be done.