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The value of a cancer registration scheme is proportional to
its completeness which can be achieved only by the co-operation of
doctors and administrators in all types of hospitals for the recording
of data and general practitioners and consultants for "follow
up" care and, where necessary, for accurate death certification.
Medical Officers of Health and research workers also have their
parts to play in building up a complete and comprehensive picture
of the cancer problem.
In June, 1959, the Central Health Services Council, in the
light of advice given by the Minister's Standing Advisory Committee
on Cancer, adopted the following resolution:—"In view
of the national importance of the cancer registration scheme, every
effort should be made to obtain full co-operation from the responsible
authorities in each hospital region."
Vascular Lesions of Nervous System.—This class, which
includes deaths arising from Cerebral Haemorrhage, Embolism and
Thrombosis was responsible for a total of 91 deaths (41 males. 50
females). The age distribution was as follows: —3 between 25 and
45 years ; 21 between 45 and 65 years ; 25 between 65 and 75 years
and 42 from 75 years upwards.
Heart Disease.—Under the new classification this disease has
been divided into three sub-headings: (a) Coronary Disease,
Angina, (b) Hypertension with Heart Disease, and (c) Other Heart
Disease.
The total deaths occasioned by such maladies amounted to 278
(150 males—128 females) compared with a figure of 310 for 1958.
and as usual, the deaths from this category occupied the principal
place in the classification of diseases in that they formed 31.6% of
the total deaths from all causes.
The speed and strain of modern civilisation is thought to have
a great bearing on diseases of the heart and circulation and it is
pertinent to state here that in Greenwich approximately a quarter
of the deaths from these so-called " stress " diseases occurred in
people between the ages of 25 and 65 years, the most productive
period of life. It is significant too that males formed by far the
larger proportion of the deaths in this age category, viz. 74.3% .
This heavy mortality in middle-aged man in the more civilised
countries has been the subject of intensive investigation and
although social and environmental conditions are probably predisposing
factors in hypertension, atherosclerosis, and coronary
disease, recent research has focussed attention on diet and, in particular,
on fatty acids. To date, however, evidence is insufficient to
sustain any official preventive action.