Too much worry over cancer cures—expert

Press, 12 February 1986, Page 9

Too much worry over cancer cures—expert

Cancer sufferers worry more than they should about treatments and cures, says a visiting expert. “Cancer is just a disease like any other disease — there is nothing special about it,” says Professor Michael Whitehouse, who is professor of medical oncology at the University of Southampton, and director of the Wessex Medical Oncology Unit. Professor Whitehouse will spend the next four weeks in Christchurch, Nelson and Blenheim as this year’s Trusteebank Canterbury visiting professor. He said that cancer, unlike many diseases, could be cured. “There are a lot of diseases which can’t be cured at all, such as heart disease.” More than 30 per cent of cancer sufferers could expect to be cured of their disease, and there were many others who could lead normal, healthy lives with cancer. The increased organisation of regional cancer units, such as that of

Christchurch Hospital, was another reassuring factor for cancer sufferers, he said. In such an oncology unit, specialists such as haematologists, biochemists, and radiologists were all together and were more likely to produce better results for a patient. “These specialists have all seen cancer, they all know cancer, and they all work together. The people involved in the unit here

clearly have the objective of providing the very best service.” The estblishment of regional units meant that drugs and treatment were used efficiently, and the patient’s treatment would be properly co-ordinated.

“What I am interested in, above anything else, is improving the quality of life for a cancer patient. If we cannot cure someone, we can make sure they have the best treatment available to give them as little discomfort as possible,” he said.

Professor Whitehouse was enthusiastic about the availability of professorships, such as the one which has allowed him to come here.

This enabled the specialists in the regional units to meet one another and observe one another at work. “If I have a sticky problem, I know that I could just pick up the telephone and call someone in Christchurch perhaps, and discuss it,” he said.

This meant that everybody, not just the specialists themselves, gained some benefit from the transfer of knowledge.