CAMPAIGN AGAINST CANCER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3832, 23 August 1927, Page 54

CAMPAIGN AGAINST CANCER.

ADDRESS BY SIR LOUIS BARNETT. In the course of an address at the annual meeting of the Peace Council on Friday evening Sir Louis Barnett said he wished to say something about cancer, that dreadful scourge of civilised mankind, which killed more people than any other malady known except heart disease. And yet cancer was not quite so bad as it was painted. It did not kill many young people. Those who ultimately fall victims to cancer averaged 60 years in age. They had had at any rate a moderate innings, and a moderate run for their money. Nevertheless all people dreaded cancer because they knew it was so often incurable, and the later stages were so tragic and heartrending to all conoerned, the patient, the relatives, the doctors, and the nurses. Doctors were sometimes held up to scorn and derision because it was alleged that they knew nothing about cancer, but he assured them that doctors knew a great deal about it, although they had much to learn vet. They were ready and willing to teach the people first, how cancer could sometimes be prevented ; secondly, how cancer could sometimes be cured absolutely, and thirdly, how cancer could sometimes be controlled. The human body started as one little microscopic cell, a tiny package of protoplasm,, a thousandth part of a pinhead in size, originating in the mother. This single cell, when stimulated to a life-long activity by impregnation, multiplied hour by hour, day by day, week by week, month by month, into countless myriads of other cells, some of which formed the skin, some the digestive organs, some the heart and blood vessels, some the brain and nerves and sense organs, some the muscles, the bones, and so on, until finally a new human being was produced living and whole. Then after birth and all through life these various cells went on multiplying for the purposes of growth, maintenance, and repair. As soon as the cells got worn out or damaged they were replaced by new cells of the right kind and in the right quantity, and so a beautifully co-ordinated balance between growth and waste was maintained all through life and all originating in the mysterious vital impulse produced by the union of one single cell. Exactly the same process occurred in all other animals and in plants. In cancer there was some interference with this marvellous adjustment between growth and waste. In some particular cell or cells this regulation or control of multiplication according to the requirements of the body was lost. A cell started off to multiply .in excessive fashion just as if it had received some stimulus akin to that received by the ovariin cell. It multiplied and multiplied until a great mass of new cells was formed, and every one of these new cells possessed the same uncontrollable tendency to multiply. The needs of the body were not regarded. The cells were as if possessed by an evil spirit—they must multiply—-and so they spread further and further afield. They invaded, compressed, and destroyed neighbouring tissues and organs. They entered the circulation, aud were carried to glands and distant parts where, again, they multiplied and founded new colonies of cells, still insanely growing, without control, without physiological need, and ultimately they killed the patient. That, in brief, was cancer.

Medical science had not yet discovered what that mysterious influence was that caused certain cells of the body to multiply in this insane and riotous fashion, or how the process once set going could be checked, except by actual and complete destruction of every cell possessed of this cancerous impulse. Doctors knew that every continued irritation of any part of the human body produce . a condition that could easily become cancerous. The lower lip, for example, was often the site of a cancerous growth, but only in those addicted to excessive pipe smoking at work and at play and at rest. At any rate, cancer of the lower lip was extremely rare in any other class of individual. The breast was often the site of cancer owing to the irritation changes associated with the function of lactation, especially, it was interesting to note, with the non-performance of that function,

for cancer of the breast own red more commonly in women who had never suckled or only imperfectly suckled children. Parts of the bodv that were unduly exposed to weather, to the excessive influence of tho actinic rays of the sun, to heat and cold and wind "and wet became more liable to cancer than normally protected tisues. That was why malignant formations like rodent ulcers, and other skin cancers were more common on the face < and on the back of the hands of weather-beaten country folk. Unhealed or partly healed clacks, fissures and abrasions, warty growths, pigmeted moles might besom© through irritation the site of actual cancer. The betel-nut chewers of India were specially liable to cancer of tho mouth, and the hill dwellers in Kashmir, who in winter wore a charcoal brazier next their bodies to keep their stomach- wann, were the only people in the world who suffered from cancer of the skin of tho abdominal wall. Highly civilised people who irritated the lining" of their stomachs by unsuitable and ill-rnasticated food or over-hot food or food contaminated bv tho sepis of bad teeth became specially liable to cancer of the stomach, and it was well to remember that this particular location of cancer caused mor-e deaths by far than any other.

All this information about the predisposing causes of cancer was well known io the medical profession and to those who had had Red" Cross instruction, and it was information that could and should be repeatedly brought under the notice of the public. 'lliis also thev knew about cancer: That is was strictly localised to begin with; that it started iii a very small way in a strictly limited area, and in this early stage it was definitely curable by any means such as operations or radium or X-ray treatment which would remove or destroy the little group ot cancer cells before they had had time to spread to adjacent glands or distant parts of the body. If every cancer case was submitted to medical 'treatment in the very early stages, when the growth was no larger, say, than a pea, then the cures would be in the neighbourhood of 100 per cent. The unfortunate thing was that cancer cases did not. as a rule, come under surgical or radiological treatment in this early and favourable condition partly because the cancer at this period gave rise to no symptoms worth mentioning and partly because patients as a class had a very natural dread of doctors, and held aloof from them as long as they could. U hen cancer once became strongly established and extensive cure was. as a rule, impossible. That was the present state of knowledge. Radinin and X-ray treatment, and lead, copper, and magnesium treatment were being increasingly employed in cancer cases, sometimes alone, sometimes in association with operative measures. Although disappointments were many, good results were often obtained, and no well equipped base hospital was to-day without its radiolo-v department.

Ihe Red Cross societies had interested themselves with conspicuous zeal in tho cancer campaign, and in Dunedin thev were much beholden to them for their help in the raising of the radium and Xray fund, which was instrumental in establishing as its present basis the radiology department at the Dunedin Hospital and which, by the way, set an example that was followed by each of the other chief towns of the Dominion. with the help of operations, ladium. X-rays, and certain chemicals could do a great deal for the victims of cancer, but the only good chance they had ot getting an absolute cure was in the early stages of the malady. and here again Red Cross workers could be very helpful in warning people of the urgent necessity of seeking medical advice early when they become aware of any abnormal luinps or discharges which might be evidence of beginning cancer.