London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chelsea 1962
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1962
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CANCER OF THE LUNG AND BRONCHUS
During the year under review 32 deaths (Males 22 and Females 10)
were recorded as against 27 deaths (Males 22 and Females 5) in the
preceding year.
The following table has been prepared to show the deaths of Chelsea residents from lung cancer, compared with deaths caused by tuberculosis, during the ten year period 1953 to 1962:-
| CANCER OF THE LUNG AND BRONCHUS | TUBERCULOSIS | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Males | Females | Total | Males | Females | Total | ||
| 1953 | 16 | 4 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1954 | 20 | 7 | 27 | 6 | 3 | 9 | ||
| 1955 | 21 | 8 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 9 | ||
| 1956 | 25 | 6 | 31 | 1 | - | 1 | ||
| 1957 | 16 | 6 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1958 | 22 | 6 | 28 | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 1959 | 31 | 5 | 36 | 3 | - | 3 | ||
| 1960 | 25 | 5 | 30 | - | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1961 | 22 | 5 | 27 | 5 | 5 | 10 | ||
| 1962 | 22 | 10 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 4 | ||
| TOTALS | 220 | 62 | 282 | 29 | 20 | 49 | ||
It will be observed therefore, that during the past ten years
over five times as many residents died from lung cancer as from
tuberculosis. It may be significant that the female figures are
the highest yet recorded and twice those of the past three years.
It is commonly believed that the seeds of lung cancer may be sown by
cigarette smoking over a considerable time dating back many years
before the final activation. It is possible that this increase
reflects the increase of cigarette smoking among women during the past
20-25 years. Although since 1953, the yearly total of Chelsea lung
cancer deaths has varied very little, resulting in an annual average
of 28, the local figures do not give a true picture of the position
over the Country as a whole. The national aspect is quite different
as will be seen from the following summary of deaths for Great Britain
since 1954 —
Year
GREAT BRITAIN
Cancer of the Lung and Bronchus
Number of Deaths
Registered
Increase over
preceding year
1954 18,076 1,233
1955 19,001 925
1956 20,080 1,079
1957 21,109 1,029
1958 22,046 937
1959 23,393 1,347
1960 24,412 1,019
1961 25,288 876
1962 26,383 1,095