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102
Looking at the death rates of cancer and tuberculosis, we find that
in 1884 the death rate from tuberculosis, out of every million persons
living, was 2,574, while that for cancer was 563. In 1920 the death
rates were almost equal, viz.:—1,133 per million living, died from
tuberculosis, and 1,166 from cancer. In 1925 the cancer rate was 1,336
as against 1,038 for tuberculosis. Part of this increase in cancer is
due to greater accuracy in diagnosis. Rontgen rays were only discovered
in 1895. Facilities for accurate diagnosis are now infinitely
better.
In view of the wide public interest in cancer throughout the world,
official and unofficial bodies have been formed, the object being to reduce
the mortality. Over three years ago a Departmental Committee was
established by the Ministry of Health. Further, a British Empire
Cancer Campaign, supported by voluntary subscriptions, came into
being. The last mentioned body is spending money in research, whereas
the Departmental Committee is an official body concerned with the
disease from the National standpoint; it investigates statistical evidence,
environmental conditions, field conditions, facilities for diagnosis and
treatment and their results. It is an advisory body, and it has issued
official memoranda on cancer, the first in the year 1923.
A special Sub-Committee was formed of Medical Officers of large
County Boroughs who were asked to make special investigations; thus
a special investigation and report was made over a year ago on cancer
of the breast. There are some interesting points in a consideration of
the statistical side of cancer. In 1924 there were 50,389 deaths from
cancer in England and Wales and of these, 23,099 occurred in males,
and 27,290 in females. The greater number of deaths among women
is due to the fact that women live to a greater age than men; they live
so to speak, right on into the cancer age, for cancer is a disease of old
age. The increase in deaths from cancer is largely amongst males,
particularly in large cities. Studying this further, we find that the
standardised death rate for every 100,000 living men was 90 during
the four years before the war; this 90 per 100,000 rose to 97 in the
year 1923, then to 100 in 1924. Cancer has therefore increased
materially amongst men. As regards women, for the four years before
the war, the rate was 97, and since then it has only risen to 98 in 1924.
These facts should be known, as many women fear that so far as their
sex is concerned, cancer is increasing by leaps and bounds. It is not so.