TOLL OF CANCER

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1932, Page 8

TOLL OF CANCER

INCREASE IN ITS VICTIMS. LONDON, December 18. “Cancer may wed l.© .called thedcaptain of the men ,of death,’ ” said Lord. Moynihan, pesidemt of the Royal College of Surgeons, declaring that cancer 'alone, -among the s-x gr.iit killing diseases in Britain, had shown an increase in victims during the .past 20 years. At prcuent, lie said, the death rate from cancer was five times that in 18G0. There were many explanations, including greater accuracy of diagnosis, while the increased chances of life resulted! in more living to the .cmcer age, which was over 35. The increase occurred in spite of the fact that moae cures had been effected than ever before in history. Operation* were far safer than previously. Personally, he l,ad lost only one patient in an operation for cancer of the breast, bin he never .expected to lose anothrr. Lprd Moynihan deprecated many doctors’ d‘dubt lS regarding the efficiency of operations, adding, “Instead of saving, ‘Let’s wait and see whether this is a malignant growth,’ you should go in and look.” Moreover, people apparently regarded earner as a shameful moral blemish, and never talked about a successful operation. If only they boasted of cancer cures it would do much good.