RADIUM FOR CANGER

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1934, Page 9

RADIUM FOR CANGER

AUSTRALIAN CAMPAIGN

TO BE INTENSIFIED

(From "Th« Post's" Representative.)' SYDNEY,. January 18..

It is announced thsyt a consignment,,of radium, valued at £30,000, mil return to Australia shortly from England, where it has been reconditioned and repacked in gold and platinum containers. This means an intensification of the cancer campaign .which is feng conducted ■ throughout- : the Commonwealth. * Faced with an ever-increas-ing mortality from.'cancer, tHe'amraal rate of which h^s grown during the gast ten years from 90 to 102 per 100,000 of the population, health authorities favour building up still wider anti-cancer organisations in each State, to include not only tEe scientific world, but also representatives of large business and: social activities. With such a movement backing up a central: Federal scheme it is felt that the disease might:be .combated with more success.

The; Federal Government's most,, important contribution to: the- campaign against cancer was made in 1928, when the Government purchased 10 grammes of radium, valued at. £100,000. These sticks have appreciated in: .value to £190,000 in- Australian^ currency,' and the Government does not" consider that there is any urgent necessity, for the purchase of more stocks. About £3000, however, is set aside, annually'for sending the radium, to England to be Teconditioned so that the standard strength will bo maintained and safety ensured to those who undergo treatment. In! addition to ' supplying stqcks of radium which have enabled this form of treatment to: be extended. to 10,000 sufferers in the past three, years, the Government has encouraged research into the more extended use of X £ray treatment/which is less costly and safer to administer. I The Federal Government 'wishes to emphasise, however, that it; can only be a central- focus for this capipaign, and that the State authorities must also intensify their campaign. The Federal Government will continue to provide all the machinery for a national centre, and will welcome suggestions: to ensufce the success of its work. ■

At present, out of every nine persons who die in Australia one dies of cancer. This rate ■would bo considerably reduced, the Federal Government is convinced, if the .public could be made to realise the urgency of bringing all cases of cancer under the earliest possible treatment. It is pointed out that no campaign against cancer can be successful until every case is treated almost' as soon as diagnosis is possible. •.: