WAR ON CANCER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22320, 18 January 1936, Page 16

WAR ON CANCER

ACTIVITIES ABKOAD AUCKLAND SURGEON'S TOUR DEVELOPMENTS TO BE STUDIED BRITISH EMPIRE CAMPAIGN Ilecent developments in tho treatment of cancer and in research activities overseas are to be investigated by Mr. Douglas Robb, an Auckland surgeon who lias given special attention to the disease, and who has acted as honorary secretary of the Auckland Division of the British Umpire (lancer Compaign Society since its inception. Mr. Robb will leave for England on January 25, and will probably be absent from New Zealand for about eight mouths. Leave of absence for the period of his tour was granted to Mr. Robb at the last meeting of the Auckland division, at which the Mayor, Air. Ernest Davis, presided. A resolution was passed placing on record appreciation of Mr. Robb's services and the hope was expressed that he would bo able to bring back much information of value to the division. Mr. Donald AlcKenzie was appointed acting-honorary secretary during Air. Kobb's absence. The annual report of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society was available at the meeting for members of the division. It gives an insight into tho i varied activities of tho society in its | effort to combat the disease —a disease, j incidentally, which is a subject of vital ! concern in New Zealand, where one ! person in every seven over the age of 40 develops it, and where its toll of deaths reaches 1500 every year. " Contradictory Factß " The introduction to tho report is contributed by the Alarquess of Beading, whose death has occurred since the paper was published. " The study of cancer," lie says, " holds a quality of mystery which, were the matter less serious, might be described as impish. No sooner has one fact been established than another apparently contradictory fact is placed 011 record, and the investigators nre compelled to set out in search of some new plane upon which contradiction may be resolved."

The report shows that the society niins to help the cancer patient in various ways. It finances actual treatment of cancer as well as research work, coordinates anil disseminates the information obtained' and strives to educate the public as to the facts of cancer. Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are all affiliated with the society, and tlie progress of the campaign against cancer in the various Dominions is referred to in special sections of the report. Importance o! Statistics A great wealth of information has been collected from all parts of the Empire, and it is stated that statistical research in such facts is as important to the campaign as costing fi an res are to the business man; that both aim at showing increased profits and lessening overhead; but that one salvages money and the other human life. - A- report from the London Hospital is indicative ■of the progress being made. "Beyond ali doubt,'' it says, "wo can nnw produce a serum which, when tested in vitro outside the body, kills cancel cells without damaging normal cells." This development, it is reported, '9 as yet purely in the testtube stage, but the hospital workers aim to apply the serum to living animals. So far they have obtained a euro of 10 per cent of cancers occurring spontaneously in mice, but cannot nominate which ones will be cured. Research work in other hospitals has led to the belief that so-called "benign" tumours aro really an early stage in the growth of malignant tumours. There is a theory that the rate of cell growth may decide the innocence or malignancy of the tumour. Tar and Mineral Oil Experiments have been carried out with various cancer-producing agents, chiefly by daily application to the skin of mice. In England there are certain occupational cancers, notably among tar workers anil those coming in contact with certain lubricating oils in cotton mills. Efforts have been made to determine the exact cancer-produc-ing agent present in tar and the mineral oil concerned. The Now Zealand laboratory reports investigations into the cellular appearance oi early cancer produced by tar. the possible presence of an anti-can-cerous substance in a part of tho body where cancer is extraordinarily rare, and various other highly technical subjects. Reference is also made to tho clinical work carried out in each of tho four main centres by medical committees, which give their services to the patients free of all cost to tho campaign.

The report is clearly indicative of the intensity of a world-wide effort which, in New Zealand as in other parts of the Empire, cannot be carried on without public contributions to the funds.