XN000022-1978-12-15 — Page 6

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1978

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MAJOR STUMBLING BLOCKS IN BATTLE AGAINST CANCER

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FEAR AND IGNORANCE ABOUT CANCER AMONG THE PUBLIC ARE THE MAJOR STUMBLING BLOCKS IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE DREADED DISEASE, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HONG KONG ANTI-CANCER SOCIETY, HE POINTED OUT THAT MANY PEOPLE PRESENTED THEMSELVES FOR CARE MONTHS OR YEARS AFTER EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE.

*THE IR FEAR AND IGNORANCE ABOUT CANCER MAKE THEM RELUCTANT TO SEEK EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, HE SAID.

+ IT IS OUR DUTY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE AN ENLIGHTENED COMMUNITY WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT, WITH EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, THE OUTLOOK HAS GREATLY IMPROVED AND THE FEAR AND PANIC FELT BY SUFFERERS IN THE PAST IS NOW IN LARGE PART GROUNDLESS,+ HE ADDED.

DR. THONG, WHO IS ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY, ADVISED THAT A LOT MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE IN PRIMARY PREVENTION AGAINST CANCER.

+A HIGH PROPORTION OF CANCERS ARE LINKED TO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND AMONGST THEM, TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL ARE KNOWN CARCINOGENS, YET SMOKING AND DRINKING IN THE COMMUNITY ARE STILL ACCEPTED AS SOCIAL HABITS, HE POINTED OUT.

+WE MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT SUCH HABITS ARE NOT PASSED ON TO OUR CHILDREN AND THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED FROM THE CANCER EPIDEMIC WHICH IS AFFLICTING OUR GENERATION, HE SAID.

DR. THONG CALLED ON THE MEDICAL PROFESSION TO LOOK +CLOSELY AND CRITICALLY+ AT ANY PROCEDURES AVAILABLE TO THEM FOR PRE-SYMPTOMATIC SCREENING OF AT-RISK POPULATIONS BEFORE EMBARKING ON VENTURES WHICH MIGHT BE EXTREMELY COSTLY AND HAVE LITTLE EFFECT ON THE INCIDENCE OF THE TYPE OF CANCER FOR WHICH THEY WERE SCREENING.

+THERE CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE EVIDENCE THAT SCREENING OF WOMEN DURING THEIR REPRODUCTIVE YEARS FOR CARCINOMA OF THE CERVIX BY MEANS OF PAP SMEARS FACILITIES EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND STATISTICALLY

IMPROVES THE SUCCESSFUL CURES OF THE DISEASE,+ HE SAID.

HE PRAISED THE SOCIETY FOR PROVIDING A CYTOLOGY SERVICE WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR SCREENING PROGRAMMES,

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