WAR AGAINST CANCER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1066, 2 September 1930, Page 14

WAR AGAINST CANCER

AUCKLAND CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED CALL FOR PUBLIC AID Special to THE SUH Cancer is New Zealand's worst menace. One in- six persons over the age of 40 dies of the disease. Surely it is the duty of everybody to fight and finally overwhelm this scourge, says a paper issued by the Auckland branch of the Cancer Campaign. Tho Auckland Province is potentially the most prolific centre of cancer. It cannot avoid this position and. because the province holds almost onetliird of the Dominion’s population, sheer numbers intensify the menace. Is it possible, is it practicable, to diminish cancer in our midst and reduce it to an ordinary risk in the normal life of healthy men and women? This question has been answered by experience. It is more than possible, because it has been proved to be practicable. A new era for the remedial treatment of cancer lias definitely dawned. In Europe the promising day has already arrived. Radium as applied by surgeon and radiologist working in perfect cooperation has given hope and happiness to tens of thousands of sufferAuckland is asked to step into line with tho leading international crusad-. ers against the disease. It is invited by the New Zealand Branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Fund to provide this year, for a vigorous organised attack upon the disease. Of the amount contributed only 20 per cent, will be contributed to the central committee for New Zealand for Do-minion-wide objects. The balance is to be spent within the boundaries of this province on special treatment to sufferers, exhaustive study of the incidence of the disease, the compilation of statistics and distribution of accurate and helpful information. THE DANGER SIGNALS Medical research has established definitely that there would be fewer mortal cases of cancer if the general public was better informed as to the danger signals of the dread disease.

Like the oak, cancer may spring from a very tiny growth. It is essential that the medical profession should be given earliest and every opportunity to determine the nature of suspicious growths or warning symptoms. It is better to be sure than sorry. Hundreds of cancerous cases in tho province could have been arrested had the stricken patients known and appreciated the value of early diagnosis and One of the aims of the cancer campaign is to encourage possible victims to consult medical advisers not only without fear, but with confidence that there is great hope for them if the disease be taken in time. Tho money is not sought for groping experiment. The New Zealand medical profession knows what is being tried and achieved in the Old World. It is not only prepared, but determined to follow on clear-cut lines of knowledge. Portion of the fund will be devoted to the provision of adequate equipment for the efficient treatment of cancer. Radium and its application to the best of advantage must be provided. Richer communities overseas are gaining invaluable experience. Auckland and New Zealand, with more limited resources, must take full advantage of the winning fight against cancer. EXPENSIVE RADIUM Radium treatment is so expensive that medical authorities all the world over agree that it is wasteful to attempt its use in many centres of healing. Effort must be concentrated to tho best advantage. irrespective of parochial interest. The patient comes first. There are to be four centres in New Zealand —Dunedin. Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. Need it be suggested that the enterprising people of Auckland would be satisfied with seeing this progressive community struggling as a weak centre where because of its greater population, there is so much greater need of an organised campaign against this scourge? In helping to fight the terrible scourage of cancer, every penny that can be spared by man, woman or child should be given freely and without stint. All contributions should be addressed to the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, Box 832, Auckland.