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III. Diagnosis Incomplete, 1.
At the end of the year, 21 women and 9 men had been dealt with and discharged, and 9 women
and 4 men still remained under observation.
In appropriate cases following up visits were paid to the patients' homes by the nurse attached
to the Clinic, with the object of inquiry into any difficulty in connection with the arrangements made
for diagnosis or treatment, and in order to keep the case under observation until it had been satisfactorily
disposed of.
During the year 74 of these visits were paid.
APPENDIX H.
REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE CANCER CLINIC AT HEALTH CENTRE (2), 381, HIGH
ROAD, WILLESDEN, N.W. 10, FOR THE YEAR 1930,
by
BESSIE R. MACKENZIE, M.D., M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H.
During 1930 a cancer session was held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at Health
Centre (2). The hour chosen was 7-8 p.m. This affords to men and women, engaged during the day,
an opportunity of seeking medical advice without losing time from their work. Many people, also,
who believe they are suffering from cancer, are sensitive about letting others know they are getting
advice, and this evening session allows them to consult a doctor without having to give the reason to
their employer or friends.
Sixty-one attendances were made during the year, and of these 39 were new cases. More
women attended than men-—26 to 14. Statistics show that the death rate is rather lower in men than
in women, the proportion being 1,000 deaths in men to 1,171 in women. It is probable, also, that
women are more ready than men to seek advice. This may be due to the fact that, owing to their
child-bearing function and their domestic duties they are brought more intimately in contact with
illness and doctors and are therefore not so reluctant as men to discuss their symptoms.
Of the 39 new cases which attended the Centre, 23 were referred to hospital for further diagnosis.
The results of these further examinations were as follows :—
Six patients were found to have conditions requiring operation and these operations were performed.
One of the cases had a definite cancer of the breast, while 4 of the other five cases suffered
from pre-cancerous conditions.
Three patients, after examination, were discharged as requiring no treatment.
Three patients were X-rayed and medically treated.
Nine patients were kept under observation and medically treated.
Two patients, owing to private reasons, failed to attend Hospital in accordance with the
arrangements made for them.
The other cases who attended the Cancer Clinic and were not referred to Hospital were either
assured on their first visit that their complaint was not cancer or, after being kept under observation
for a few weeks, were discharged as fit or, as happened in 5 cases, were advised to get treatment from
their own doctor for some condition which was obviously not malignant.
A careful note was made in each case of how the existence of the clinic had come to the notice
of the patient. It was found that 19 were attracted by reading the advertisement in the local press ;
10 by reading an article on cancer in the paper ; 4 by seeing the poster in front of the clinics ; 4 were
recommended to come by friends, and 2 were sent by Councillors. It would seem, therefore, from the
above that the most useful way of bringing the Cancer Clinic to the notice of the public is through the
press. Propaganda was carried out also by the Health Visitors in the course of their duties ; by talks
given by the Medical Officers at the Centres and by distribution of Cancer Leaflets when suitable
opportunities arose.