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18
On the question of chronic irritation as a determining factor in
the appearance of Cancer, one certain fact is that it frequently follows
on chronic or prolonged irritation. Not all tissues, however, are
equally liable in this respect, hut the liability of Cancer to follow
chronic irritation of many different types is remarkable, and leads to
the supposition that beneath them all there lies some common factor —
as yet unrecognised—which is fundamental to the passage of a chronic
inflammatory and non-cancerous condition into one that is definitely
cancerous.
As regards the preventive treatment of the disease there are at
least some provocative causes which can be guarded against. Since
Cancer occurs more commonly in certain sites, it is prudent to notice
and remove causes of chronic irritation in these sites. Apart altogether
from Cancer, people should attend to these conditions in the exercise of
common care for their general health and fitness. In this category,
for example, and for reasons just given, come the removal of rough
stumps of teeth or replacement of badly fitting dentures; a change of
habit if pipe-smoking is found to produce soreness on the same spot of
the lip or tongue; an alteration of clothing which causes irritation of
particular regions of the body—for example, the breast; the avoidance
of constipation and other like matters, On the same basis the
possibility of establishing a chronic irritation in a region liable to
Cancer gives an additional reason for obtaining advice and treatment in
disorders of the stomach, bowels, etc.
Since early diagnosis obviously depends upon co-operation between
doctor and patient, medical advice should be sought at once by those
who experience any abnormality likely to indicate the occurrence of
Cancer, or which may be the precursor of the disease. Above all,
sufferers should not waste time or money by trying quack remedies,
which at best are useless, and at worst aggravate the disease.
The Public Health Committee having considered the Memorandum
of the Ministry, resolved that a copy should be sent to every doctor
practising in the Borough, and I have been favoured with the
opportunity of discussing the question with the Local Branch of the
British Medical Association. This was with the view of eliciting
from the practitioners if they were of opinion that any action or
co-operation between the practitioners and the Borough Council would