CANCER

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1929, Page 2

CANCER

VALUE OF EARLY TREATMENT. LONDON SPECIALIST’S ADVICE. AUCKLAND, January 29. In the arrangements made by the New Zealand Rraneh <d the Rritish Medical Association for the interchange of opinions and for the purpose ol keeping abreast of medical research at Home, an important part is played by the visits of noted surgeons to the Dominion. Or. \Y. S. Handley, of London, who arrived by the Alaungamii from Sydney this morning will attend the nilannual conference ‘of the New Zealand Branch to be bold in Wellington in February and will address delegates on recent researches in cancer. Tie said that a ronforonee was held in London last July when it was shown that very definite but .slow progress was being made in the treatment of cancer, especially by the use of radium and b\ improved methods ot operation. Much importance was attached by Dr Handley to early treatment of the disease and the results in eases wlieio patients were treated when the attack was in its incipient stages were gratifying. Indeed, lie said, it could not he too strongly urged upon people to seek expert medical attention at the earliest possible moment. If that advice were followed he considered the war upon cancer would he waged witli much greater success than was at present .the ease. The explanations of the delay in such a large percentage of eases was that people thought that if they had no pain they did not have cancer. That view was contrary to expertopinion, which held that early cancel was painless. Emphatic that cancer could lie cured, Dr Handley said there were numerous matters in connexion with the methods of treatment that were still the subject of dispute. Dr. Handley is on the executive ol the committee ol the British Empire cancer campaign, which is organising and carrying out researches in England and in many parts of the Empire. He will be in New Zealand for about six weeks and will return to England via Canada.