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33
From the preceding table it can be seen that the age group
45 to 65 years continues to be the period of greatest mortality, and
deaths in this group consistently constitute approximately half
the deaths attributed to lung cancer. At present the trends in
Greenwich with regard to lung cancer closely follow those discernable
in the national figures. Since 1950 the numbers dying from
cancer of the lung in England and Wales has almost doubled to
the current figure of 23.774 giving a rate of 0.51 per thousand of
the population. This compares with a rate of 0.68 for London
and 0.71 for Greenwich.
Nationally as well as locally, recent years have shown an exceptionally
rapid decline in the death rate of pulmonary tuberculosis
whereas that for cancer of the lung has increased, one might almost
say, correspondingly and the epidemic proportions of this
disease become more apparent each year. Indeed, for some time,
statistics have indicated that serious illnesses and in particular lung
cancer were affecting smokers rather than non-smokers.
Immediately after publication in October, 1961, of the Royal
College of Physicians' Report on "Smoking and Health" which,
incidentally, left no reasonable doubt as to the effect of tobacco
smoking on the incidence of lung cancer, there certainly was a
distinct reduction in cigarette consumption throughout the country.
However, this decrease proved to be purely temporary and, aided
and abetted by the re-introduction of coupons, the consumption
of tobacco is again rising.
What has been achieved in persuading people to desist from
smoking? Practically nothing ! In the minds of many adults
health education is somehow associated with the idea that it is
introduced by "the authorities" primarily to stop them doing some—
thing they wish to do and therefore must be resisted at all costs.
With regard to schoolchildren, recent education campaigns
conducted in various parts of the country have, in the main, been
abortive. The dramatic effects of parading a model of a cancerous
lung, coupled with a lecture indicating that habitual smoking can
lead to this kind of result, appear to be short lived. This type
of approach is obviously intended to frighten children into abstention
and their normal reaction is to refuse to succumb, thinking
that it is manly not to do so.
Psychological studies have shown that cancer education with
a strong fear content has the least effect in inducing permanent
changes in attitudes. Moreover, as indicated in my last report,
many youngsters smoke not only with their parents' consent but
with their active co-operation.