“DELAY IS DANGEROUS”

Southland Times, Issue 19395, 8 November 1924, Page 5

“DELAY IS DANGEROUS”

TREATMENT OF CANCER. A DOCTORS’ INVESTIGATIONS. (Special to the Times). CHRISTCHURCH, Nocember 7. Dr P. C. Fenwick, who was sent to England and the Continent by North Canterbury Hospital Board to study the Redium treatment of cancer, has made a report which will be'submitted to the next meeting of the Board. In it he says: MANY INSTITUTIONS VISITED. "After consulting Professor Lazarus Barlow, it was decided that my work should be divided into the practical application of Radium and X-rays and the scientific aspect of treatment with radiations. In addition I was most anxious to gain definite knowledge of the actual results of treatment in the various hospitals and I was allowed to inspect the records of hospital treatment for a number of years. I had the pleasure of working in the Middlesex, the Cancer and in the King’s College hospitals and was able to see both the practical work and the results of treatment which had extended over a number of years. In St. Bartholemew’s Hospital I was allowed to see the results of treatment in the female department. I visited Paris and was introduced to Professor Regaud, of the Paris Radium Institute. Professor Regaud not only showed me his own clinic but arranged that I should see the entire working of the Institute. I was struck with the wonderful organisation of this and gained valuable information. In Brussels, Professor Bayet personally showed me both his hospital and the Radium Institute and I was able to see a totally different aspect of treatment. After spending another month in English hospitals I visited Sweden and was shown the special methods of treatment adopted in the Stockholm Radium Institute. I then proceeded to Copenhagen as I was anxious to see the Finisen Institute and the treatment of lupus. On my return to England, I received mi invitation to return to Belgium and inspect the actual manufacture of radium. I accepted this and with Professor Russ visited Golens and Brussels and saw the manufacture of radium from the raw ore to its final stage when it is packed into the instruments for actual use in the treatment of cancer. TREATMENT OF PATIENTS.

“I had the pleasure of visiting Manchester, and gained a lot of practical knowledge. Every opportunity was given me to see not only the patients actually under treatment, but numbers of patients who were being watched at regular intervals, and this after-care of every patient is, in my opinion, the most important precaution. No case is classified as a cure until four years have elapsed without recurrence of symptoms, and the carefully kept cards of patients are the only means of establishing an honest annual report. I do not wish to give any figures, but can say that in certain forms of cancer, I saw cases that no one would hesitate to call cured. It was in the female department that I saw the most striking results. It was also in this department that I saw the saddest result of delay. In the great majority of cases presenting themselves for the first time for treatment, the results of delay are only too evident, and, although great relief was often given, the word ‘incurable’ or finoperable’ had to be written against the par tient’s name. If only people could be persuaded to seek advice at once, the chance of a cure would be enormously increased. Delays are always dangerous; in cancer delay is deadly. NEED FOR EARLY TREATMENT. “I would venture to offer a suggestion to the North Canterbury Hospital Board. The Board has led the way in New Zealand in a great and well-organised campaign against tuberculosis. The .institutions on the Cashmere Hills are a lasting proof of the humanity and wisdom of this. Our hospital will now be well equipped with the latest weapons of fighting cancer, but this will be of little avail if the persons afflicted with the disease delay seeking help until help is no longer possible. If our Hospital Board would make it known that the equipment is available, and that every facility will be given to those who need help, a great deal might be done, and perhaps in time people may become educated up to the fact that it is fatal to put off seeking advice.”