DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1927, Page 8

DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER

A BLOOD SERUM TEST DISCOVERY BY A DOCTOR. MORE THAN -20 YEARS’ TOIL. An article by Dr. Bercy Dunn, ophthalmic surgeon at West London Hospital, dealing with the discovery by Dr. •1. A. Shaw-MaeKenzie of a blood serum test for cancer, is published in the Daily Mail. Dr. Shaw-MaeKenzie states that he found some years ago that the blood of a cancer patient differs from that of a healthy person and that the difference can be detected by a chemical test. Dr. Dunn writes: The discovery of the Shaw-MacKcnzie blood serum test for cancer is one of the most striking examples of painstaking, indefatigable research work in this counti™ For more than 20 years Dr. Shaiv-MacKen-zi« devoted himself to this self-imposed task. Day after day, for many hours, hie attention was exclusively concentrated upon it. His enthusiasm never lacked, so much so that it attracted warm interest among his fellow-workers in King’s College laboratory. “Nevertheless he was encouraged by, and was cordially supported with adviqe from. Sir W. D. Halliburton, then Professor of Physiology at King’s College, the director of the laboratory. The annual cost, by no means inconsiderable, of his prolonged investigations was provided by Dr. Shaw-MaeKenzie himself. The results;, as his work proceeded, had each to be recorded, tabulated, scheduled, and compared. The numerous note books in his possession testify to the additional labour which this must have involved. BREAKING NEW GROUND. “When a new result was obtained this often meant a new line of investigation to determine its significance and bearing upon the general scope of the inquiry. Such a process of elimination was continually in operation, delaying tlie fiijal issue, but that was unavoidable. In truth, he was working upon new ground which had never been explored before. Still, his unquenchable spirit never abated, in the face of disappointments which from time to time had to be encountered. Nothing was allowed to intervene to arrest his progress. Ultimately the discovery of his test came within sight and the reward of his ambition was achieved. “’What has" been the sequel, so far, in this country! Has the test been received with any recognition worthy of it as a distinct advance affecting the solution of the eancer problem? Let it be remembered that it was evolved from many intricate processes of scientific research, and let it be plainly understood that this research work has been entirely ignored. Not the least reference has been made to it, nor lias any attempt, officially, been undertaken to submit it to verification. More surprising still has been the attitude of the medical journals in this connection. Dr. Shaw-MaeKenzie has been largely debarred from giving professional publicity to his discovery. In a sense, perhaps, a policy of caution has probably accounted for this conspiracy of silence and neglect. This neglect, however, cannot be justified on any grounds. It should be remembered that the research work was a product of King’s College laboratory, and who can pre tend to maintain that this distinghished centre of research would have imperilled its reputation by sanctioning the issue of a scientific result which failed to reach the high standard upon which it prides itself? ADVANTAGES OF THE TEST. “The authority upon this point rests in the hands of the director. Incidentally a marked instance of the suppression of the knowledge of this test occurred only two months ago. A distinguished physician wrote: ‘Since a positive diagnosis of cancer carries with it a prognosis of great seriousness, it behoves the practitioner to walk very warily. It is a wise practice never to diagnose cancer unless you are certain.” “But, it may be. added, while the practitioner is waiting for the confirmation of his suspicions,, the disease continues to advance, and when at last the aid of a surgeon is summoned it has probably reached an inoperable stage. In illustration of the advantages of the test the following case may be cited, one among many to which attention has been drawn privately. “An elderly man was advised by his friends to enter a large metropolitan hospital for the treatment of some obscure gastric symptoms, the nature of which suggested malignant disease. An exploratory operation was accordingly decided upon to clear up the diagnosis. But to this the patient objected. On returning home _ the Shaw-MaeKenzie blood test was resorted to. The reaction negatived cancer. The gastric symptoms subsequently relieved, and the patient is still alive and well. CANCER CASE REVEALED. "One day I was shown in the laboratory by Dr. Shaw-MaeKenzie six test tubes in a stand, containing blood serum to which the test had been applied. The specimens had been sent without any labels from a London hospital with the request for a report. Only one of the six responded to the test —a pale, opalescent deposit characteristic of malignant diseases. The five other specimens were taken from patients suffering from various diseases. On inquiry the cancer reaction revealed by the test was evidence of a case of cancer. This was subsequently confirmed after removal of the disease, the exact nature of it having previously been a matter of doubt. “It remains to state that the opinion of the distinguished authority, Sir W. J. Simpson, again justifies the attention here being drawn to the clinical importance of the Shaw-MaeKenzie test. From the technical aspect, it is of interest to recall that much speculation was excited in the laboratory with reference to the nature of the deposit which resulted from the test. For some time this remained undetermined. Afterwards it was found to bo a physiological product known as cholesterol.

“Does the presence of this substance indicate an excess of it in cancerous blood, presumably owing to some perversion of nutrition associated with the cause of cancer? Science has still to inquire into this biological problem, since from its solution may be derived—who can tell? —a new link in helping to advance our knowledge of malignant disease.”