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80
CANCER.
In August the Ministry of Health issued a Memorandum
on Cancer for the guidance of Local Authorities, in view of the
great and increasing amount of suffering and death due to
that disease in this country, the public concern which is evinced
by its prevalence, the failure so far to find a preventative or
cure for it, and the inquiries made by local public health
authorities as to the steps which they can usefully take to
disseminate information with regard to it amongst the inhabitants
of their districts.
The Memorandum summarises in non-technical terms our
present knowledge with regard to the cause and incidence
of cancer, and to offer for the consideration of local health
authorities some suggestions which it is hoped may be useful
to them in their efforts to inform public opinion on this important
subject.
I do not consider it advisable to set out the whole of the
Memorandum but only to refer to the word of caution of the
Minister under the heading of propaganda.
Much caution is obviously needed in announcements to
the public on Cancer in order to avoid over-statement, the
making of promises which are not warranted by evidence, or
the production of needless and mischievous apprehension of
cancer. If all this is realised, knowledge of some of the main
facts of cancer (negative as well as positive) such as are indicated
in this Circular, may usefully be spread through the
ordinary agencies of public health departments, notably by
instruction at Welfare Centres, by midwives and maternity
nurses, and by social welfare workers. It need hardly be added
that it is important for the Medical Officer of Health in advising
on these matters to enlist the counsel and assistance of other
medical men, whether specialists or general practitioners, in
his area.