The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1933. CANCER RECORDS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1933. CANCER RECORDS.

In two recent issues of the Monthly Abstract of Statistics are summarised ligurco relating to the history of all cancer patients who appeared in the public hospital records during the j years 1925, 1926 and 1927, and who were then discharged as “recovered” or “relieved.” As the figures under different headings may not be readily fob owed by the lay reader, Dr. J. S. ’Eiliott, president of the New Zea- . land branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign, makes the following statement showing the significance of the figures compiled by the Government Statistician: —Nearly 20.0 cancer cases pass through New Zealand's public hospitals annually; 637 persons were originally discharged recovered in the hospital returns during the years 1925 to 1927, and of this number no less than 287, or 45 Tier cent., had a recurrence of cancer and bad further treatment or died during the six-year period under review. Fifteen per cent, of the total had recurrence within 'six months, and 20 per cent, within one year of discharge from hospital. Of the 637 persons discharged recovered, 314, or 49 per cent., avere alive and had not been re-admitted for treatment, and 36 people out of a total of 637 died from causes other than cancer. Apparently the word ‘recovered’ is ambiguous, and may mean recovered from the disease or recovered from the operation. Many medical men in cancer statistics arc reluctant to use the word ‘recovered’ unless five years without symptoms have elapsed , since the possible cure; and the word ‘relieved’ is preferred to ‘recovered’ to describe the patient’s condition after treatment. During the three yeans 1925-27, 215 patients were discharged as ‘relieved’ and did 'not reappear in the records bv the end of 1931. These 215 patients' may therefore b e added to the 314 truly recovered persons already referred to, so that for the year 1925, of those discharged recovered or relieved, 25 per cent, apparently had no recurrence within six years. If, however, all cancer cases treated in public hospitals are taken into account, the percentage of those discharged as recovered or relieved and not reported as recurrences becomes approximately only 12 per cent. Of the 637 gases originally discharged as recovered, 323 were men and 314 women. A rather larger number of men than of woman proved to be ultimately cured in the sense of freedom from symptoms after the lapse of five or six years. 'Cancer of the buccal cavity gave the highest percentage of recoveries, followed next in order by cancer of the skin, showing, with other facts taken into consideration, that the more inaccessible the sit? of the growth, the pm ailed - the percentage of recoveries resulting. Of cases of cancer of th@ buccal cavity, 9.5 per cent, recurred within six months and 27.9 per cent, within three years. The percentages of recurrence for breast cancer are 16.6 within six months and 51.5 within three years; and for uterine cancer 24.5 within six months and 38.8 within three years. The statistics given may be vitiated in some ways and may be less favourable, not more favourable, than (appears. There may be a few eases numbered among the 314 so far non-fatal cases where cancer has reappeared, but treatment has been, sought outside the public hospitals. The case of people leaving New Zealand or of women marrying must also be taken into consideration. However, those factors would probably account only for a very small proportion of the 314 oases referred to, according to a statement issued from the Census and Statistics Office. The statistics alluded to already as compiled by the Government Statist}cfam show that cancer iP not a boneless, incurable disease; tile, proportion of eventual recoveries is higher and the death rate lower than many would suppose.