Evening star., 1937-03-15
CANCER RESEARCH
HELD INADEQUATE
Funds Spent for Study Are
Estimated at About
100000 Yearly.
BY HOWARD RLAKRSLEE,
Annotated Press Science HditeJ.

NEW YORK, March 15.-FactS that
the average man may rely upon, II
he faces cancer, were set forth yes
terday by newly formed Cancer
Council Of the American Society for
the Control of Cancer.
The council answered 9 series of
laymens questions presented by the
National Association OF Science
Writers. The physicians said that
hopeful in others,
Cancer was declared the greatest
health problem before us today-its
death rate nearly three times that
of tuberculosis. In the face of this,
"far too little money" 1t was as
serted, is available in this country
for research ON cancer.
The council did not give the none
tary figures, but DR.. Francis Carter
Wood of Columbia University said
the annual total spent Is not more
than 100000. This amounts to two
fifths of l cent per year for every
person in the United States, for a
disease which statistics show will at
tack l man out of every 10 and l
woman out of every 7.
Early Detection,
One of the questions asked whether,
In view of the fact that cancer rec
ognized early is durable, efforts should
be concentrated Immediately on dis
covering how TO recognize early cancer.
The council answered that attempts
for many years to discover such tests
have failed.
The reason" the physicians added,
for persistent failure of this type OF
work is probably based ON the fact
that early cancer, as a local disease,
differs so little from the normal
Physiological behavior of the sur.
rounding tissues that there is no logi-
cal reason for the difference to ex-
press itself IL any measurable way"
Another question asked If It Is pos
s1ble TO detect In early durable stages
any types of internal cancer. ARE
the methods of detection, it was asked,
too costly for most people2
Under certain circumstances" was
the reply, 1T is possible to detect in
early stages cancer of the stomach
and the intestines. In other cases, for
no apparent reason, there are few,
If any, discernable symptoms. In the
case of kidney tumors. blood IN the
urine is probably significant"
AS to cost, the council answered
that because there are esta ablished In
stitutions which will give free dag
noses 10 those in need, cancer exami-
nation is not beyond the means of
the average person.
Two Factors Aid Detection.
The laymen asked whether average
medical practitioners are equipped to
detect early curabls cancer and
whether the great majority of them
fail TO detect cancer until it is too
late.
"It is the councils opinion" was
the reply, that the average medical
practitioner is equipped to detect can
Ger In its curable stages when the
cancer Is situated on the skin, lip
tongue, mouth cavity, breast uterus
or rectum. He will be greatly aided
in this respect by two factors; /
BY being cancer minded'-that is,
alert and interested In the problem
2. BY intelligent and persistent in
terest on the part of the patient.
Internal cancer, such as that of
the stomach, intestines, liver or lungs
ordinarily requires special equipment
for satisfactory detection in early
stages. 1t is also silent in its early
stages, as far as symptoms go.
The council believes that it is In
correct to assume that the great ma
jority of practitioners fail to diagnose
the presence of cancer until 1t Is toe
late. 1t seems r,ore likely that the
doctor is given no opportunity to
diagnose early cancer in the great
majority of cases"
Periodic examination Of every one
by X-rays to catch early cancer was
declared impracticable. X-rays, the
council said, are, however, so impor-
tant in suspicious cases that their cost
should be reduced where necessary
by private or public subsidy.
Diet Factor Is Doubted.
The council stated that it does not
believe that diet plays major role In
causing cancer.
To a question whether general CO.
operation in cancer research is advis-
able the council answered that toe