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Cancer of the lung or bronchus presents a rather more difficult problem as the
symptoms may pass unnoticed until the disease is too advanced. However, cough lasting
more than a few weeks, blood in the sputum, pain in the chest or shortness of breath all
call for the advice of a general practitioner without delay and further investigation if
necessary. The case of so-called bronchitis may indeed prove to be cancer of the lung or
tuberculosis, and with the ready availability of the mass radiography service there seems
to be no reason why every case of prolonged bronchitis should not be x-rayed.
A fair amount of attention has been given by the press and radio to the possible
association of atmospheric pollution and tobacco smoke with cancer of the lung and bronchus.
There appears to be little reduction in tobacco consumption but surely it is too early to
expect any result. The heavy smoker is unlikely to change his habits on the off-chance of
developing cancer of the lung at some time in the future. He tends to measure the risk
against the possibility of being run down by a car or falling down the stairs or getting
some other disease, decides it is hardly worth the effort, and goes on smoking.
If health education is to play a successful part it seems that it must be directed
more at the younger generation before they have started smoking. Parents, school teachers,
health visitors and other social workers all have an important part to play. The Forces,
too:, are probably heavily involved for is it not likely that many young men first acquire
the habit during their National Service? Incidentally, it is interesting to note the great
preponderance in deaths from malignant disease of the lung and bronchus among men as compared
with women in the table on page 21.
The Government and Local Authorities are becoming increasingly concerned about the
problem of atmospheric pollution - not only on account of its possible relationship with
cancer of the lung, but also on account of the needless chronic incapacity, or, indeed,
loss of life, resulting from bronchitis. Furthermore the damage to buildings and goods
is an equally good reason for trying to do something about the matter.
The public ignorance about cancer is quite surprising. I am reminded of the Storeman
on whose face I noticed an obvious rodent ulcer. He told me that he had had it for about a
year, that a friend, a member of one of our great first aid organisations, had told him that
it was a cancer and nothing could be done about it, and consequently he had not bothered his
doctor1 Fortunately the condition still appeared to be localised. After referral to his
doctor and treatment at hospital, I saw him again in a few weeks when he was very pleased with
the result.
The obvious answer seems to be to see oneJs doctor without delay.
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