“CANCER-PHOBIA.”
DISEASE FALLACY. AFFECTS MANY PEOPLE. Perfectly healthy for a man of his age, William Dyas, 60, of Paddington, became so obsessed with the idea that he had cancer that he killed himself—a victim of pure Imagination (says a London paper). Holding an inquest, the Peddington coroner (Mr Inglebv Oddie) pointed out that it was a common mistake/for people to imagine they had cancer, and commented: "This i 3 a case of cancer-phobia.” Tlie evidence made it clear that Dyas had committed', suicide as a direct result of depression induced by thinking that he had cancer. Medical testimony made it equally clear that the man had no disease. “Ho had the fixed idea that he was suffering from cancer,” continued Mr Oddie, “and many people have the same view with on t any foundation. “This man, in fact, became so depressed that he went to a mental hospital. ) “Actually there was not the slightest trace of illness in his body."
The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide while of unsound mind.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19330807.2.27
Bibliographic details
Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19017, 7 August 1933, Page 3
Word Count
171“CANCER-PHOBIA.” Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19017, 7 August 1933, Page 3
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Waikato Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in