London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Beddington and Wallington 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Beddington and Wallington]
This page requires JavaScript
CANCER.
The following table gives the ages, sex and localisation of the disease in the 71 cases in which death was attributed to this cause: —
| 20-30 years. | 30-40 years. | 40-50 years. | 50-60 years. | 60-70 years. | 70-80 years. | Over 80. | Total. | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | |
| Jaw | — | — | — | — | .— | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Oesophagus | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Lungs | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 3 |
| Larynx | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | — |
| Stomach | - | - | - | - | - | - | — | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 10 | 3 |
| Large | ||||||||||||||||
| Intestine | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Liver | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 |
| Pancreas | - | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 |
| Peritoneum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | _ | 1 |
| Urinary | ||||||||||||||||
| Bladder | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 |
| Rectum | - | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | — |
| Uterus | - | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | _ | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
| Ovary | - | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 4 |
| Breast | - | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | 6 | — | 4 | — | — | — | 14 |
| Prostate | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | — | |
| Tongue | - | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Cervix | - | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Unknown | - | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Totals | -" | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 36 |
An analysis of the table shows that there was a remarkable
increase in the number of deaths from this cause in 1937 as compared
with 1936.
Another feature of the table is that, while Cancer of some part of
the intestinal tract is still the most frequent type of case, the number
of cases in which Cancer of the lung was diagnosed as the cause of
death shows an increase.
This may probably be accounted for by more reliable and accurate
methods of diagnosis, but since males are more affected by the disease
than females, occupational influence may also be a contributory factor.
Cancer of the breast is still common in women, a total of 14 cases
being recorded as compared with 9 last year, while the number of cases
of Cancer of the uterus remains about the same.
17