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27
From the preceding table it can be seen that the age group
45 to 65 years is still the period of greatest mortality and it may
well be that some significant relationship exists between the increase
in female deaths from lung cancer and the increase in female cigarette
consumption. Current figures give a ratio of approximately 5
males to every female death from this cause compared with an
average of the previous 8 years of 6 to 1.
Despite intensive research, causes of cancer have still to be
determined and atmospheric pollution may yet be proved to be a
potent factor in promoting lung cancer.
Consideration has been given at various times to the question
of making malignant diseases notifiable, as in present circumstances
the only information available to a Medical Officer of Health is that
obtained from the death returns ; he, therefore, gains no knowledge
of the incidence of the disease, effect of treatment, recovery rates
or possible pre-disposing factors.
As the result of an investigation by a Sub-Committee set up in
1952 by the Registrar General's Advisory Committee on Medical
Nomenclature and Statistics, the whole question of the future of
cancer registration was referred to the Ministry of Health's Standing
Advisory Committee on Cancer and Radiotherapy. The outcome
was a recommendation to the effect that a simplified card be intro—
duced for the voluntary registration of all sites of cancer and that
a concentrated effort be made to achieve complete registration in a
few selected regions. In February 1954 the Minister of Health
requested reports on this suggestion from Regional Hospital Boards
and Boards of Governors and it seems likely that a number
of regions will be operating full regional schemes in the near
future.
Many misconceptions regarding Cancer exist in the minds of
the public, e.g., that Cancer is an hereditary disease ; that it is
infectious or contagious ; or that chronic irritation or inflammation
causes Cancer. Not one of these assumptions has been proved
scientifically, moreover, it is becoming more evident that under
certain conditions Cancer is a curable disease. However, at the
moment the most important factor is time, but unfortunately, many
cases are beyond cure before advice is taken. At the risk of pro—
ducing a few hypochondriacs it is obvious that greater efforts must
be made to educate the public because the latest available informa—
tion supports the fact that delay in seeking medical advice is becom—
ing more prolonged.