View report page

5
CANCER.
In Willesden in 1933 there were 260 deaths from Cancer, as compared with 250, 250, 214,
239, 240 and 217 in each of the previous six years. The tendency to increase, therefore, unfortunately
continues.
Two Cancer Clinics are held; one at Health Centre 1 on the first and third Thursdays
of the month, from 7 to 8 p.m., and the other at Health Centre 2, on the second and fourth Thursdays
of the month at the same hour. No treatment is attempted, the object being to get early contact,
to secure diagnosis and treatment if necessary, or to give reassurance as the case may be. Treatment
or further diagnosis is obtained at certain of the larger London Hospitals with which the Council
has made satisfactory working arrangements.
If a patient is under a private doctor who can be located, the latter is communicated with,
and the result of any examination or advice as to treatment is made known to him as soon as possible.
Propaganda, in the form of posters, leaflets, advertisements, articles in the press and talks
has been continued, but there is a great disproportion in the number of deaths as recorded above
and the number of persons attending the Clinics. It can only be reiterated that if more sufferers
attended the Clinics in the early stage of their disease, medical and surgical treatment would ensure
that a greater proportion of them would be cured.
During 1933, 45 patients attended these Clinics, of whom 34 were new cases (8 men and 26
women) and 11 had attended during 1932 and were still under observation at the end of that year.
The total of attendances made in 1933 was 70. Of the 34 new cases 7 were found to live out of the
district and were dismissed after being suitably directed as to the means of securing proper investigation
and treatment.
The remaining 27 cases after examination were disposed of as follows —
16 were referred to a hospital for further investigation ;
1 was referred back to her own doctor ;
5 were kept under observation and asked to re-attend (1 of these was finally
charged before the end of the year and 1 did not re-attend) ;
2 were referred to special clinics, but did not have cancerous or pre-cancerous
ditions;
1 was referred to the Tuberculosis Officer, but did not follow advice and was ultimately
discharged.
2 were reassured and discharged on their first visit ;
Of the 16 who were referred to hospital :—
9 were found to require operation (8 have been operated upon; 1 has refused operation);
6 have received or are receiving treatment at hospitals as out-patients, or are being
kept under observation there ;
1 left the district before keeping her appointment at the hospital.
The pathological conditions from which the 34 new cases suffered are briefly as follows :—
10 cases had abnormal breast conditions;
3 had cancer;
5 had chronic inflammation;
1 had a tumour likely to become cancerous;
1 had a benign tumour;
5 cases suffered from affections of the female genital organs;
3 had conditions often found to be pre-cancerous;
2 had simple non-cancerous conditions;
3 cases had conditions affecting the digestive tract which occasionally lead to cancer;
5 cases had similar conditions of the mouth and throat;
4 cases had innocent tumours of the body wall or skin;
7 cases had conditions unconnected with cancer, but which were causing anxiety or
required treatment;
1 case was not definitely diagnosed as she did not keep her appointment at the
hospital.
(1 case in the above classification suffered from two affections.)