CANCER CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20716, 8 November 1930, Page 8

CANCER CAMPAIGN.

PROGRESS IN AUCKLAND. NEED OF CO-OPERATION. RESEARCH AND TREATMENT. The campaign being conducted in the Auckland province against cancer is bringing before the public a realisation of the ravages of this dread disease in a comparatively small community. The growing death rate from cancer, in spite of /the study that has been devoted to the disease and the improvements which surgeons believe have taken place in methods of treatment, leads those interested in the British Empire Cancer Campaign to hope for co-operation among all people in an effort to rid the world of one of tho gravest menaces to civilisation. Surgeons believe that cases of cancer have increased at a rate greater than the deaths from the disease and intensive laboratory research during the past 30 years, although it has accomplished much good work, has failed to establish thtf cause for the abnormal ' growth of the diseaso. The medical profession has been responsible for much splendid work in investigations to date, but the field of research is so wide that only with public assistance can tho required results be obtained. And it is in tho interests of tho public to proride (his assistance as generously as possible/ Adrquato funds aro necessary for putting into effect tho objects of tho campaign—the conquest of cancer through a full and complete knowledge of the hisiory of the disease. Of the money raised in the Auckland pro\ince, it has been decided that up to 20 per cent, shall be handed to the New Zealand central committer to assist in work which has a Dominion-wide application. Part of this .work is the engagement as a research worker of Dr. Begg, who will continue at the Medical School at Otago University * work begun in London several years ago. The central committee may also desire to bring to New Zealand experts in the treatment of the disease and to. send men abroad for special study, while the compilation of statistics of cancer as it affects the Dominion is a most necessary work which is certain to receive attention. The balance of the fund will be devoted to the needs of the Auckland province. One very important task is to impress on the public the necessity for dealing with the disease in its earliest possible stages. Information will be distributed as widely as possible concerning the symptoms of cancer, so that patients may come forward for consultations before the disease has progressed far. It is realised that discretion • must be used in these warnings concerning cancer. One of the world's greatest surgeons has said:—"The people must be frightened, not to death, but to life." Finally there is the question of radium treatment. Experience in its nse is rapidly accumulating and its field of application is expected to extend year by year. The provision of complete facilities for radium treatment is one of tho main i objectives of the campaign.