Source: American Cancer Society, CA, Bulletin of Cancer Progress, vol. 8, p. 43 (March-April) 1958.

22. What occupational exposures are known to cause cancer?

Since Percival Pott observed in 1775 that English chimney sweeps had an unusual risk of developing cancer of the scrotum, numerous instances of occupational cancer have been observed.

23. What are the methods for treating cancer?

A cure of cancer is defined as the total and permanent eradication of the disease, usually based on disease-free survival for at least 5 years. At the present time there are only two curative methods for treating cancer: surgery and radiation (X-ray or radium). For certain patients and certain types of cancer one or the other method may be preferable and sometimes the best results are obtained by using a combination of procedures.

Thus, in Connecticut during 1947-51, it was the practice to use surgery almost exclusively as the method of treatment for cancer of the large intestine, whereas most cases of cancer of the cervix were treated by radiation. Treatment for cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, on the other hand, was almost evenly divided between surgery and radiation. This experience is probably fairly representative for the United States.

Chemotherapy (the treatment of cancer by drugs) is used for the partial relief of certain patients with advanced cancer. The cure of cancer by chemicals is one of the major research goals, but up to the present time, no actual cures have been obtained by chemotherapy alone. (Source: Griswold, M. H., et al., op. cit.)