TREATMENT OF CANCER.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1934, Page 6

TREATMENT OF CANCER.

So much has been heard of the increase in the prevalence of cancer in New Zealand and Australia that the results of research in both countries are of the utmost interest. To the layman to hear of anyone suffering from cancer is almost to hear sentence of death pronounced, but it is good to know from Dr. J. S, Elliott, a leading practitioner at Wellington, that the New Zealand delegates to the Australian Cancer Conference have “gained not only instruction, but also increased confidence” in the treatment of this serious disease. A combination of surgery and radio-therapy has been most successful in the Commonwealth, and Dr. Elliott considers that if only people would come early for treatment of cancer the death rate from the disease could be considerably lessened. According to the report of the Director-General of Health for last year the deaths from cancer showed a further, though only a slight increase on those for the previous year, the deaths per 100 being 12.60 as compared with 12.39 the previous year. The report revealed, however, that heartdisease of all forms accounted for practically twice the number of deaths due to cancer, and the Director-General is of opinion that the progress of cancer in the Dominion is slow. Its apparent increase, he considers, is in considerable measure accounted for by the longer span of life and greater skill in diagnosis. Nevertheless a disease that was responsible for 1472 deaths in New Zealand for the year 1932-33 is one that requires all the attention research can give. It will be noted that Dr. Elliott again emphasises the need for early treatment if a cure is to be effected. It is advice that has been given by Dominion health authorities for many years, and if acted upon will aid the medical profession in its efforts to overcome this deadly menace to human life. •