HEREDITY AND CANCER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20922, 11 July 1931, Page 11

HEREDITY AND CANCER.

THE EMPIRE CRUSADE. "In regard to the direct influence of heredity on the development of cancer, there is evidence that mice and men are linked in a strange fraternity," says Dr. D. A. Welch, professor of Pathology in the University of Sydney. '•'Both mice and men may show strains that are relatively susceptible arid strains that are relatively immune to cancer. Fortunate, indeed, are they who belong to tho latter class. And to those who belong to the former class, that is, to those who have a family history of cancer, I would say that fore-warned is forearmed. it is one of the prerogatives of intellect to be' able to turn what at first appears to be a menace into a weapon of defence against that menace. If we accept the fact that heredity plays a part in tho genesis of most cancers, then we should bo in a better position to prevent death from cancer, because our attention would be focussed upon their early and curable stages when an hereditary predisposition is known to be present, and, further, we should concentrate upon prevention in such cases by removing all possible exciting causes." Tho effort now being made in New Zealand on behalf of the Empire Cancer Crusade, to organise forces against this great enemy of mankind, should have the sympathy and help of everybody. At the same time, It should be borne in mind that the message of the crusade is one of hope, for medical opinion states that cancer in its eai'ly stages is usually curable when properly treated.