THURSDAY, OCTOBER, 5, 1916. OUR MOST DEADLY DISEASE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2894, 5 October 1916, Page 4

THURSDAY, OCTOBER, 5, 1916. OUR MOST DEADLY DISEASE

.... — 0 .. It will astonish most people to! leatn that there are now more deaths in New Zealand from cancer than from tuberculosis. We 'have tad great crusades against tuber-, cular disease; thousands and tens of thousands of pounds have been expended in organised efforts to stamp out "the white plague," as it' has been styled - } and what is being done about this still more deadly disease?: A few days ago the Chief Health Officer, De. Valintine, speaking to an interviewer at Auckland, made the remark that the .increase of cancer in the Dominion was more apparent than real. He added that, people are most'susceptible of cancer in old age, and as the average length of human life is increasing, it was only'natural that more cases of cancer should be discovered, This view is discussed in a letter from Dr. Herbert, published in another part of this issue, which we. think deserves the widest publicity because of the facts it discloses concerning the prevalence of - cancer here and elsewhere. The figures relating to this Dominion leave no room for doubt as to the extent to which the disease exists, and the increase in the number of deatns from 66.5 per 100,000 of the population to 83 per 100,000 in 1914 speaks for itself whatever the reason may be. The fight which the Public Health the Hospital authorities' have conducted for years past against- tubercular disease was in every way justified, and the results obtained have warranted its continuance. But it certainly seems anomalous that the authorities have not hitherto realised that a systematic effort to combat cancer is just as necessary for the public wolfare as the crusade against tuberculosis. As already stated, more people die in New Zealand from cancer .than from consumption. Statistics show that 904 persons died from cancer in 1914, as against 728 deaths from tubercular disease. But it would be a mistake to jump to the conclusion that Kew Zealand is at all unique as regards the increase of cancer. The upward tendency is general throughout tha civilised world. We must, however, face the i fact that the rate of increase recorded is greater for this Dominion than the average rate for, European countries. The object in view in stating these facts is not iv cause.alarm, but to impress upon the public and the health authorities and the medical profession the ned for -action.

It is satisfactory to know that the Health Department has recently made a beginning. The Department is now completing the preparation of a pamphlet to he distributed among the people with the object of spreading knowledge concerning cancer and affording advice'as to early consultation and treatment. This ,is a ..very modest_ beginning, but it • is a wolcomo sign that tho Health authorities really intend to do something. /It is highly desirable that the public should be made tounderstand the wisdom of attacking cancer in its early stages. De. Herbert tells us that in its early stages cancer is a more curable disease than consumption. Inan article in tho Scientific American dealing with the campaign against cancer which has recently been started in ■• ccrtaiu parts of the United States, it is stated 'that without question a large percentage of

cancer deaths can be prevented by early recognition of the symptoms ana prompt Tccourso to competent surgical ndvioe and treatmorit. Cancer is not a hopeless, incurable affection, as so many people wrongly believe. Those who know the facts believe that it tho phblic can .be properly educated in regard to the early signs of the disease and will 'act on this knowledge, the present mortality 6hould be reduced at least half, and perhajjs two-thirds. . This is a most encouraging belief. Cancer crusades have been, inaugurated by the health authorities ol Maine, Now Hampshire, and Massachusetts, and'in Vermont public meetings are being hold in order "to spread the bad news of tho high cancer death-rate and tho good news of the hope ;of controlling the disease by earlier recognition and prompt surgical treatment." Hoffman, a leading American statistician, states that the problem to be solved is this:. How malignant disease is to be controlled, how it can be prevented," and how it can be successfully cured. The effectiveness, of the solution as far as New Zealand is concerned depends largely upon .systematic cooperation betweeii tho Health .Department, the Hospital Boards, the medical profession, and'the Press. Isolated ana spasmodic efforts are not likely to produce- satisfactory results. A well-organised campaign, based on the best expert knowledge, is needed. It is the duty of the Public Health Department to take tho lead and to obtain the assistance and advice of thoso in the best position to give practical help. The Minister of Tublic Health (the Hon. G. W. Russell) has already shown a commendable desire (to make his. Department as useful as possible. He has thrown much energy into his work, and is not afraid of getting out of old ruts. If he will now place himself at the head of a vigorous crusade against cancer ho will deserve the gratitude ~ of. the whole community. The 'task is worthy of all the time and thought which he can devote to«it. Though an infallible cure for cancer in all its stages has not yet been discovered, it is quite certain that its prevalence could be largely reduced, and the first step in a crusade to achieve that end is an educative' campaign, in whioh the Health _ authorities and the medical profession. must play the leading part. The educating of the public to come earlier for treatment is a matter of vital importance, but there bust also be co-operation between the Health authorities, the Hospital Boards,' and the medical profession to secure unity of effort and uniformity of method.