Medicine: New Cancer Treatment

From Manhattan last week came press reports of advances in the treatment of cancer by radium. Experiments have gone on for some six months at the Memorial Hospital. No final results are claimed, and such cures as have been obtained must wait some time before they can be pronounced permanent.

Some 100 cases of cancer, mostly cancer of various parts of the head have been treated with results described as “very satisfactory.” The method of treatment revolves around the use of a system of insulation which prevents the beta rays of radium and X-rays that are caustic to all tissue from reaching the area to be treated. It is believed that the gamma rays are the efficient agents in the treating of cancer by radium. By cutting off the beta rays by insulation, a greater concentration of gamma rays than hitherto could be safely used, may be applied without harmful or painful effect. The treatment consists of irradiation applied externally. After a time an operation is undertaken to remove some of the cancerous tissue, and little sealed gold tubes containing radon (the gas given off by radium) are inserted in the affected tissue. The radon gradually loses its potency, but meantime it is said to do its work.