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has recently stated, if all male deaths from cancer could be prevented,
then man's expectation of life would rise by only 2\ years and, in
the case of females, by 11½. But because cancer is now one of the
principal causes of child mortality, preventive measures should have
greater public appeal both socially and psychologically.
Bearing in mind the possible dangers of producing a few hypochondriacs
I feel that, if any progress is to be made in the field of
cancer prevention, it is incumbent upon all health authorities to
present the public with up-to-date information in order that it may
have the opportunity to avoid the 'cause and effect' associations
with regard to cancer risks encountered in the daily round. Cancer
education is a 'must', not only to stimulate the seeking of early
treatment but also to promote the preventive aspects.
Since carcinogens abound in our environment and even natural
radioactivity in this country delivers to humans a dosage of the
order of 100 units per annum, and although these are generally
harmless, it would seem reasonable not to exacerbate the problem.
We find, however, that the traces of arsenic which occur naturally
in our food are being added to by the use of modern insecticides;
the well-known tobacco carcinogen, '3.4 benzpyrene', is found in a
number of uncooked, cooked and smoked foods; drinks made by
pulverizing whole citrus fruits could be a hazard, for citrus oils are
capable of producing skin cancers in mice. Alcohol, although not in
itself a carcinogen, is associated with buccal and oesophageal
carcinomas presumably by allowing the absorption of carcinogens.
Of all the cancers, that of the lungs has shown the greatest
increase, the rate being equivalent to 2,188 per cent, higher than 40
years previously. However enjoyable smoking may seem to be,
evidence that it is the prime cause of lung cancer is overwhelming
and that advice to heavy smokers to change to cigars or pipe in
order to avoid the serious consequences of cigarette smoking seems
a little too optimistic. The Ministry's Chief Medical Officer, at a
world conference on 'smoking and health' has stated quite categorically
that the aim was not to limit cigarette smoking but to stop
it. As proof of the efficacy of ceasing to smoke he said that, nowadays,
only one in three doctors smoked and their death rate from
lung cancer had fallen by 30 % while the general male rate in Britain
from this cause had risen by 25%. Hardened smokers, seeking to
mitigate and divert attention from their unreasonable addiction,
are inclined to indict atmospheric pollution as the major cause of
lung cancer. Investigations by the Medical Research Council into
this question failed to produce a decisive answer but there are
indications that some factor in urban life acts synergistically with
cigarette smoking which gives rise to lung cancer. This could be
atmospheric pollution but there are suggestions that density of
population is significant. It is true that urban lung cancer rates are