CANCER TREATMENT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 16, 14 October 1943, Page 4

CANCER TREATMENT

Survival Chances Better If Treated Early

FIGURES FROM AUCKLAND Graphic records presented yesterday to the committee of tlie British Empire Cancer Campaign Society (New Zealand branch) by Dr. Howard Gaudin, Auckland, were described by Professor D’Ath, of the -Medical School, Otago University, as very concrete evidence ami an answer to the questions being asked, particularly toy laymen, as to what definite results the cancer clinics were showing. A Dr. Gaudin’s figures related to Auckland, and they compared two groups—the 10-year group of 1930-33, and. the minimum five-year group of 1934-38. Progress in the control of cancer of the cervix uteri was indicated. Tlie cure rate had improved in tlie more, recent material by 25 per cent. Dividing the material into grades according to the stage reached by the disease at the time of treatment, it was demonstrated that this improvement was to be seen in the management of early cases and that with advanced disease, the outlook was little better when the two groups were compared. The improvement in management in latter years, was strikingly depicted in cases classified as group one (10 years) where a 40 per cent, better chance of survival seemed to be indicated when these patients came under the care of a team specially organized for thia type of work. . Comparing the 1930-33 group with the 1934-38 group in -breast cancer, there was an overall improvement of approximately 10 per cent, in the latter. Cor-re-hiting- the relative incidence of “early cases (those having no demonstrable metastases) and the “late” cases (those having nt least axillary nodes affected), in the two series, there was an increase in “early” cases from 31 per cent to 44, but where the situation existed that ob per cent—to give the lower figure—of breast cancer patients sought advice “late,” ample reason was seen why the management of such* cases was not rewarded bv better results. It was supposed tliat the cause for this delay in instituting treatment could not be laid nt the door of the physician, but that the fault lay rather with the patient who, either through ignorance or neglect, ignored the early signs of disease. With prostate cancer, more difficult or diagnosis, there was .no demonstrable improvement in the situation today from 10 years ago. Recent surveys from the Mayo Clinic in the United States, and from another leading source, showed that a survival rate of as high as 24 per cent, might be expected in resectable cancer where there was good co-operation of a public educated to an awareness of cancer with a medical organization adjusted to deal with these specific problems.