DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER

Shannon News, 11 January 1927, Page 4

DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER

DISCOVERY OF A DOCTOR.

IGNORED BY MEDICAL PROFESSION. An article by Dr. Percy Dunn, op- | thalmic surgeon at West London Hoa- | pital, dealing with the discovery bj j Dr. J. A. Shaw-Mackenzie oi a blooa | serum test for cancer, is published m J the “Daily Mail.” Dr. Shaw-Macken- j zie states that he found some years! ago that the blood of a cancer patient differs from that of a healthy person , and that the difference can De detected by a chemical test. Dr. Dunn writes: —The discovery ,of the Shaw-Mackenzie blood serum test for cancer is one of the most striking examples of painstaking, indefatigable research work in this country. For more than 20 years Dr. ShawMackenzie devoted himseli to this seifihiposed -task. Day after day, for many hours, his attention was exclusively concentrated upon it. His enthusiasm never lacked, so much bo that it attracted warm Interest among his fellow-workers in King’s College laboratory. “Nevertheless he was encouraged by, and was cordially supported with advice from. Sir W. D. Hah.junon. then Professor of Physiology at King’*? College, the director of the laooraiory. ■ The annual cost, by no means inconsiderable of his prolonged investigations was provided by Dr. Shaw-Mae-kenzie The ’ results, as his work ! proceeded, had eacn to be recorded, tabulated, scheduled, and com- / pared. The numerous note-books m tils possession testify to the additional labour which this must have involved. ’Breaking of New Ground. “When a new result was obtained this often meant a new line of investigation to determine its significance and bearing upon the general scope of the inquiry. Such a process of eliminatlon was continually in operation, delaying the final issue, but that was unavoidable. In truth, he was working upon new ground which had never been « explored before. Still, his unquenchable spirit never abated, in the face of disappointments which from time to time had to be encountered. Nothing was allowed to intervene to arrest his progress. Ultimately the discovery of the test came within sight and the reward of his ambition waa achieved. ; “What has been che sequel, so, far, in this country? Has the test been received with any recognition worthy of it as a distinct advance affecting the solution of the cancer problem? Let it be remembered that it was evolved from many intricate processes of scientific research, and let it be plainly understood that this research work has been entirely ignored. Not the least reference has been made to it. nor has any attempt, officially, been undertaken to submit it to verification. More surprising still has been the attitude of the medical journals in this connection. Dr. Shaw-Mackenzie has been largely debarred from giving professional publicity to his discovery. In a sense, perhaps, a policy of caution has 1 probably accounted for this conspiracy of silence and neglect. This neglect, however, cannot be justified , on any grounds. It should be remembered that the research work was a product of King’s College laboratory, and who can pretend to maintain this distinguished centre of research would have imperilled its reputation by sanctioning the issue of' a scientific result which failed to : reach the high standard upon which it prides itself? Advantages of the Test. “The authority upon this point rerfts in the hands of the director. Incidentally a marked instance of the suppres-. sion of the knowledge of this test oc-* curred only two months ago. A distinguished physician wrote: ‘Since a positive diagnosis of cancer carries with it a prognosis of great seriousness, it behoves the practitioner to walk very warily. It is a wise practice never to diagnose cancer unlesa you are certain.” “But, it may be added, while the practitioner is waiting for the confirmation of his suspicions, the disease continues to advance, and when at last the aid of a surgeon is summoned it has probably reached an inoperable stage. In illustration of the advantages of the test the following case may be cited, one among many to which attention has been drawn privately. “An elderly man was advised by his friends to enter a large metropolitan hospital for treatment of some obscure gastric symptoms, the nature of which suggested malignant disease. An exploratory operation was accordingly decided upon to clear up the diagnosis. But to this the patient objected. On returning home the Shaw. [ Mackenzie blood test was resorted to. The reaction negatived cancer. The . gastic symptoms subsequently under . treatment were completely relieved, ! and the patient is still alive and well Cancer Case Revealed, “One day I was shown in the laboratory by Dr. Shaw-Mackenzie sis test tubes in a stand, containing blood serum to which the test has been applied. The specimens had been sent without any labels from a London hospital with the request ior a report. Only one of the six responded to the test —a pale, opalescent deposit char- . acterjstlp ©f malignant diseases. The t five other specimens were taken from , patients suffering from various dis- * eases. On inquiry the cancer reaction revealed by the test was evidence s of a case of • cancer. This was subsequently confirmed after removal of the disease, the exact nature of it having previously been a matter of doubt. “Jt remains to state that the opinion of the distinguished authority. Sir W. 1 J. Simpson, again justifies the attention here being drawn to the clinical 1 importance of the Shaw-Mackenzie

test. From the technical gspept, it is of interest to recall thgt nquch speculation was excited in the laboratory with reference to the nature of the deposit which resulted from the test. For some time this remained undetermined. Afterwards it was found to be a physiological product known as cholesterol.

“Does the presence of this substance indicate an excess of it in cancerous blood, presumably owing to some perversion of nutrition associated with the cause of cancer? Science has still to inquire into this biological problem, since from its solution may be derived —who can tell? —a new link in helping to advance our knowledge of mal. ignant disease.”