RADIUM AND CANCER

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12355, 27 January 1926, Page 3

RADIUM AND CANCER

RADIOLOGIST’S VIEWS SEEKING GREATER KNOWLEDGE DR. FENWICK’S GOOD WORK (By Telegraph.—Special to “Times.”) AUCKLAND, January 24. Interesting features relating to the use of radium in combating cancer were discussed yesterday by Dr. Arthur Burrows, the eminent British radiologist, who is visiting New Zealand. He js radiologist of Manchester and district Radium Institute and physician to Christie Hospital for cancer, Manchester. He is also a member of the Radiology Committee of Medical Research Council, England. Dr. Burrows said he was interested in the fact that Auckland Hospital was to be equipped for treating cancer cases with radium. He had met Dr. C. E. Maguire, medical superintendent, when the latter was in London purchase ing a supply of radium that is now on the way to Auckland. No modern hospital could afford to disregard radium in cancer treatment. “The limitations or exact functions of radium in relation to cancer have not yet been, definitely decided,” Dr. Burrows said. “It has been established that apart from surgery radium offers most promise in cancer treatment.” Difference of opinion existed between radiologists and surgeons as to' the relative merits of forms of treatment that should be adopted in certain cases. Further research and experience was necessary to determine the issue. Hitherto the value of radium had probably been aa a palliative, although its curative value was very considerable. Much of the best radium work in palliation was done in cases that had recurred subsequently to operation. The great advantage that radium had compared with surgery was that its application was comparatively simple and held no risk of immediate mortality: moreover, in cases that it did not cure it eased the condition and made the patient much more comfortable. STILL MAKING RESEARCHES Dealing with direct treatment of cancer cases by radium, Dr. Burrows said that notwithstanding ’ that most- of them were past the stage for operation, about 10 per cent, of cases treated with radium kept well without recurrence for many years, at least from 60 to 70 per cent, were benefited and kept free from pain for various periods extending to several years. Thepe was no telling what the future held for radium, but the extravagant hopes aroused by its use after its discovery had not been entirely fulfilled. It now had a well recognised function in the treatment of cancer cases, end took rank as one of the greatest discoveries of modern times for .the good of mankind. SUCCESS AT CHRISTCHURCH Supplementing the authoritative statement given by Dr Burrows comes encouraging news from Christchurch, which at present hne the best radium equipment in the Dominion Mr A. n. Henderson, editor of the “Lyttelton Times," said Dr. P. O. fenwirh bad been experimenting for a number of veans with radium, and the Christchurch Hospital Board, when it received the gift of radium, decided to send him Home f -*T training tor S't. 'nfiomas Hospital. He spent twelve months in London and Sweden. 1 When he returned to Christchurch ho brought, an. assistant and started a rndinro institute in connection with the hospital. Hundreds of cases are being nut through, and really marvellous results have been obtained in the treatment of surface cancers and surface growths. The usual method of treatment is'to insert the needles containing a small quantity of radinm in the affected part in order to watch the conrse of results. Blaster casts of an affected ear, fare, ot hand ere made, photographs are taken, and these are r-nm-nrpi with the patient after treatment. “I was astonished e+ what. I.saw.” said Mr Henderson. “ A comparison of casts and photographs with the patient demonstrated that anparentlv complete "ures T»pd f»ohmred. T mav sav that Dr. Fenwick Himself does not* claim permanent cure*?. but He aava oases that Hare been through His hands not gone h*»ck. *"<l moreover He does not expert tHev will come hack. 7t is of course alwnvs nossihle that there will He a recurrence. Hut it is not pxnected. WHat struck me most forciHlr, ,> said Mr Tieuderson, #, wae that when I questioned patients undergoing treatment. tHer assured me it was absolutely painlesc n in unite Hopeless cases radinm Has been used to relieve agonising pains that sometimes are characteristic of the fine! sieges, and eren if it merely does that I am sure it. H».s more fT»ar instiled itself.” Tn additioro to dealmer with mirfe*'© srowths the Christchurch radium department also d«Ms with srrowths, both with radinm a"d h-o immensely powerful X-ravs X-rav machine is a verv elaborate affair. and « current of about 7fK> 000 rnlte is used The apparatus is so designed that rav* •mn he directed in the shape of a cone into anv nart of the Twidv and to suv depth. Keiivr ns it w«ye focussed on the rmrt.it is desired to treat. ”Thi<* treatment.” continued TVfr Henderson, “is having excellent results, chiefly so far in mitigation of pain. T)r. Fenwick savs that even in advanced cases of cancer Where there is no Hope of mre the department Has been able to eliminate dreadful pain which eo often ae. comnnnied the final stages. He is altogether verv optimistic in view of remarkable results that V*qt*« neff-'* 11 - been obtained.”