Show Dr Brady Says Opinion Varies WI Whether ether Drive Stimulated Dread of Cancer B By William Brady MD M.D. Warnings of the he danger signals signals signals sig sig- sig- sig nals of cancer have been so widely broadcast over the past few years ears that perhaps only the illiterate are unaware unaware un un- p aware of them them them- l. l w wand and I suspect a I. F i k of great portion these have been told about them j There can be beno beno no doubt that these warning arning 1 have in many in III instances 4 J stances instilled Dr Brad Brady a morbid dread and anticipation of cancer cancel in ill the m minds of susceptible susceptible tible persons Many persons suffering suffering suffering suf suf- fering minor disorders have allowed aI al lowed the fear of cancer to lead them to doctors doctor's offices in fear and trembling Even when assured assured assured as as- that cancer docs does not exist many of these persons have clung to their suspicions in the thought that the doctor was merely trying trying try try- ing to relieve their feelings feelings or or was incapable of diagnosing ca cancer cancel n cc t Gauges Cancer Dr Drive e eThe The American Cancer Society the the leading agency in stimulating stimulating stimulating ing and providing for research in cancer recently cancer recently attempted to gauge the tile harmful effect effect if if any of of public education in the field of cancer morbid dread of cancer being a state stale of mind it was felt that the tile psychiatrists psychiatrist's psychiatrists psychiatrist's opinions of the thc possibilities pos pos- would be of value Accordingly 10 of the tile Diplo- Diplo mates of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology were asked asked for Cor an opinion n. n Two hundred hun dred and seventy two of these replied Of these 31 expressed the opinion that the educational campaign was harmful Two hundred hundred hun hun- dred and one forty of oC the diplo- diplo mates expressed the opinion that the campaign was harmless or did more good than harm One psychiatrist expressed the tile opinion opinion ion that a person who developed abnormal fear of oC cancer as a are re result re- re sult StIlt of the educational campaign would just as readily develop abnormal abnormal ab- ab ab lb I normal fear of anything else that j happened to be handy It is perhaps an unfortunate thing that more universal uni agreement agreement agreement agree agree- I ment among doctors on various questions does docs not exist In this I instance it seems safe to assume that the doctors replied on the I basis of their personal experience in the matter which accounts for forthe forthe the variation of opinion But many persons who have ha morbid fear of cancer do not impart their fears to doctors It seems to me that authoritative tive ti information on cancer is of great value to the public in public in the same sense that information on many other diseases is valuable i IThe The unstable person who Ilo becomes morbidly depressed by fear of oC disease disease of of whatever er type type may may suffer mentally as the tile result of education but should stable persons be denied knowledge on this account The great majority of the population undoubtedly takes medical education in stride In fact I often think they arc are too complacent about bout it |