Progress In Cancer Study

Chronicle (Levin), 12 April 1948, Page 4

Progress In Cancer Study

Presn Assaniciian)

(Per

WELLINGTON, April 11.- ■ "There had been deiinite progress in the study of cancer in the past iive years," said Dr. F. Bielsehowsky, who arrived from England in the Ruahine to be direetor of the new laboratories established at Otago University by the New Zealand branch of the British Einpire Cancer Campaign Society. Certain types of cancer, it had now been established, could be influenced by drugs, He laughed and said it was absolutoly ttbsurd when asked if he had heard .of tlie claim of Mr. Braund that he was curing cancer in Australia. "In many cases of advanced cancer when medical men can do little or nothing, poor people in desperation go to quaeks, ' ' he said. "I object to a quack who makes money out of these poor people. " , Dr. Bielsehowsky said his particular interest in cancer research lay in conditions which f avoured the development of . tumours. Biochemistry was one pf many. faetors in the research and through,;it endeavours'wefe being made to lind dietetie nieans of controlling .CaiicbjUf His wife, also % qualificd dpctor^? would help him in that. Branch %ork in t)jfe|.'DtUiS^h /labpratories. '* L —4*: " .. Some cancers might be caused by a virus but there was not the slightest proof yet that human cancers were caused by a virus, he said. If a patient weut to a doctor early^ the chances of cure by one means or the other might be very good. There might be an early diagnosis of shin or breast cancers but the biggest trouble was early diagnosis of abdOminal cases. "Cancer is increasing today because . the percentage of old people is on the inCrease. I'his is the greatest single factor for the disease is rare in the young. It is in the lifties and sixties that it is most prevalent and there are more of those ages because infectious diseases are losing their ferrors/3' he , added. Dr. Bielsehowsky and his wife are haturalisfed British Stibjects. They hope to settle and make their home in New Zealand. For the past nine years Dr Bielsehowsky has been earrying out research at Sheffield University.