§ 8. Mr. Crawshawasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of doubt in the nursing profession about the curative effect of early treatment of cancer; and what information he has, including figures, to show the necessity for the earliest possible treatment.
§ Mr. LoughlinI know that a local survey of a group of nurses indicated140W some pessimism about the curability of cancer, even when diagnosed early, but I do not think this view is common to the nursing profession as a whole. Modern methods of treatment enable many patients to be permanently cured, and, generally speaking, the earlier cancer is treated the better is the chance of cure. It is not possible to give figures which cover all circumstances but many well-authenticated studies agree about the value of early diagnosis.