CANCER PROBLEM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 215, 11 August 1937, Page 6

CANCER PROBLEM

DISEASE NOT HOPELESS. PROGRESS OF RESEARCH. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Aug. 10. “Although cancer is still tho major problem in medicine,” stated Dr. A. jl. jlegg, director ot tho Cancer Research Laboratory, at the annual meeting of the Otago and Southland division of the Cancer Campaign Society to-day, “and although the victims it claims annually may be numbered by thousands, the position to-da.y is not one of complete failure, but rather one of increasing hope. Given early diagnosis and treatment, results are really highly encouraging.” Dr. lirgg stated that in an investigation carried out at Leeds some years ago on cancer of the breast, the following results had been found : At the end of five years 85 per cent, oi early cases, 18.5 per cent, of moderately advanced, and J. 3.5 per cent, of advanced cases were alive. At tho end of 10 years 71.4 per cent, of class 1, 5.2 per cent, of class 2, and 5.G per cent, of class 3 were alive. Indeed, it might fairly be claimed now that in an curly case of breast cancer, treated by modern methods, the chances were that about 90 per cent, of patients would recover and remain well. Cancer of the lip was likewise easy to recognise and easy to treat so long as it remained localised. Even in cancer of the tongue, although a less favourable variety, it was claimed that about 50 per cent, could be cured if conditions were favourable as regarded situation and the earliness of removal. Tho modern use of radium, either alone or in combination with surgical treatment, had proved a. great advance in cancer therapy, not only as a curativo agency, hut also for the amelioration of advanced and deep cancers and relief from pain. Cancer in less lavon ruble sites, when diagnosed early, yielded from 5 to 50 per cent, of fiveyear cures. The great hope, then, for cancer patients was early diagnosis and early treatment. It was because of this that laboratory research was 6o necessary in every cancer campaign. Attempts were being made and must be pursued vigorously toward finding a reliable means of diagnosing cancer in its earliest stages, no matter where or how deeply situated the cancer might be. If this could be found, then every cancer sufferer would bo in a position to receive early treatmtnt and almost certain cure. This was one of the lines pursued in the Dunedin laboratory, but, up to tho present, unfortunately, with no success. Another aim in laboratory research was tp find possible ways of making radium treatment even more efficient than it was now Unfortunately a.ll cases did not respond equally well to radium treatment. Why this was so and how it could be altered in order to get 100 per cent, of cures was the constant preoccupation of tho laboratory staff in Dunedin. . Dr. liegg concluded by saying he would like to impress upon the people that cancer was not a hopeless disease