WAR ON CANCER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 210, 5 September 1934, Page 10

WAR ON CANCER

PROGRESS OF RESEARCH HOPE OF VICTORY GTvOWIJfG. EMPIRE-WIDE ACTTVITIES. The progress made in c-ancer research ’ during the past year is referred to in the 11th. annual report of the British Empire Cancer Campaign. “It wsas poinited out by a very great : soldier that every battle is divided into three parts—the period of preps ration , when openings are sought for and posi- . tioiks secured, the period of struggle j when each side tries to break down | the other’s resistance, and the final ; period in which the morale of the vani breaks down; I think, it is a ; fair statement about the *batitle against! cancer that it ds to-day in the second of these stages,” said Lord in introducing the report in the House of Lorde last month. “Lines of approach upon tho I enemy’s position have been opened up, and it has been possible, in consequence, to attack with great vigour over a wide front,” he said. “The attack, is proceeding. If it is too soon, as yet, to say that victory is in flight, ’ it is true, certainly, that hope of victory is increasing fronj year to year.” The diversity of the lines of investigation. both in the laboratory and in the clinical fields, was amazing, stated the report. The microscopic unit, the cancer cell, had been studied from the chemical point of view, and the differences between its “chemical” life and that of normal or healthy cells hrfd I been further cleared up. The effect on its growth of the “hormones,” of ••hemical messengers circulating in th« blood, and also of the gamma rays of 1 radium and X-rays, was being further studied, particulurly at. its stage of . multiplication into fresh cells. Cancer-producing Substances. ! Perhaps the most interesting result ‘of the year’s labours related to the | chemistry of cancer-producing substances, such as had been known to exist in nhale oil and tar. Certain of these had been prepared in pure form, and synthetically prepared examples had been found to be active in producing cancer in animals such as rats and ~ mice. The rcjMirt stated that further work had been done on tho production of a serum against cancer, and in the improvement of 'tihe serum test in its diagnosis In Liverpool aud in Bristol much work had been done in the trial of various chemical substances for the destruction of malignant cells on injection, wiithout harm to normal tissues. Compounds of lead, sulphur, aud selenium particularly, had been used. In patients suffering from cancer of _ hopeless extent, or muture, much benefit had been achieved in the prolongation of life and the relief of suffering. Clinical Reports From Centres. ■ New Zealand is represented by a full I report of the laboratory research in i Dunedin. Almost, no mention of clinical work is made. The reports which have been prepared for four years pas't lin the four centres have apparently .been found unsuitable for* compilation jinto one report. The results of treatImeut to date in Auckland do no»t com- ) pare favourably with results in simi- ■ lar groups from the centres rapre- _ sented. fl The society in Britain has held * special meeting to consider fresh linwl of research and betlter co-ordination between the centres. It appealed foe fresh funds on Empire Day throughout Great Britain to carry out this piegramme.