CANCER HAS NO FAVOURITES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 6, Issue 139, 20 February 1942, Page 9

CANCER HAS NO FAVOURITES

(Written for "The Listener" by DR.

H. B.

TURBOTT

Director of

the Division of School Hygiene, Health Dept. )»

ANCER is the greatest problem facing, medical research. Searchers all over the world are seeking the answer. So far, it seems that this work is along dark alleys. Yet cancer was first adequately described to doctors 104 years ago. It was a German, Johannes Muller, who detailed its nature in 1838: "Cancer is an abnormal growth of the body cells, For some reason, usually late in life, normal body celis turn into a_ wild, deadly growth. That is called cancer." Although the actual cause escapes discovery, our defence against cancer steadily consolidates. Since early Egyptian days, surgery has been used. In 1895, a new weapon was discovered, the X-ray. Some years later, in 1903, radium was found to have the power of destroying certain types of cancerous cells. In the earlier years of this century, facts began to replace belief about cancer. The belief that cancer arose only in civilised communities disappeared as more extended inquiries proved its frequent occurrence in primitive races. Cancer was shown to have local origins, and not to be a constitutional disease. That is why the removal of a growth sufficiently early may completely eradicate the disease. Experiment In Japan In 1916, in Japan, it was demonstrated that cancer could be produced in the laboratory. Chronic irritation was used, rabbits’ skin being painted with tar over a long period; cancer developed. Laboratories the world over have worked on this problem since, but still the question awaits answer as to why irritation causes normal body cells to run wild. But facts are emerging! The specific substances in tar that cause cancer are

known. Others related to them have been made artificially. These cancerproducing substances are akin chemically to natural body substances — for example, to the sex hormones. It has been shown in experimental animals that prolonged administration of a sex hormone encourages glandular cancer, especially cancer of the breast. And contrariwise laboratory work has shown that by giving yet another hormone at the same time, this result can be prevented. Other research workers are delving into the curious phenomena of tumors produced by a virus, Gradually, facts about the nature of cancer are accruing, and as everybody knows, success in treatment is growing with the doctor’s growing skill and equipment. Can It Be Cured? The modern unit for treating cancer consists of a team of skilled workers, who collaborate in the study of each case, and decide which of the available methods-surgery, X-rays and radiumor what combination of. methods should be used. Can cancer be cured? The answer is bound up with appreciation of the fact pointed out above, that cancer is a local disease. It begins and grows locally at one spot, and at first is limited to that spot. Later, secondary growths occur. Now if cancer can be caught early before it has extended to second growth, and if it is accessible to surgery, X-rays and radium, it can be stopped and cured. As yet, no preventive is known. Cancer in its early stages can be cured. In its early stages, cancer causes little or no pain. Therefore, to gyard against it, every person, especially over 35 years of- age, should have periodical medical examinations, Don’t be guided by any- |

body except a thoroughly competent physician. There are many lay agencies in our country that portend t6 give health guidance and treatments. Danger signals appear sometimes as a lump, an irregular bleeding or discharge, a sore that does not heal, or as indigestion with loss of weight, Is It Hereditary? Is cancer hereditary? Mice-genera-tions upon generations-have been used in laboratories until research workers can say on the one hand that cancer itself is not handed down a family tree, but on the other, that the tendency or

susceptibility to develop cancer can be hereditary. No germ has yet been found growing in or causing cancerous growths, It is definitely not "catching." Cancer has no favourites. In 1939 in New Zealand, it was the second greatest cause of death, 1815 people succumbing, 92 per cent of these at 45 years of age and upwards. It affects more females at the younger ages, more males at the older ages. Keep a sharp look-out for any suspicious condition, have a medical overhaul, and be optimistic-cancer can be cured-if you get it early enough. NEXT WEEK: "The Sugar Subsidy," by Dr. Muriel Bell,