San Francisco cancer survey : third preliminary report (fifth and sixth quarterly reports) / by Frederick L. Hoffman.

  • Hoffman, Frederick L. (Frederick Ludwig), 1865-1946.
Date:
[between 1920 and 1933]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: San Francisco cancer survey : third preliminary report (fifth and sixth quarterly reports) / by Frederick L. Hoffman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of disease therefore prevails decidedly more among the colored than among the whites. Cancer of the uterus ])revailed at a rate of 32.0 among the white po])u- lation against .32.9 for the colored. This is unquestionahly the most ])ro- nounced racial dillerence among the various forms of caticerous adlictions. (.ancer of the ovaries occurred at the rate of 2.1. among whiles and 2.9 among llu' colored po})ulation. (.ancer ol the vulva and vagina occurred at the rate of 0.9 among the white and 1.1 among the colored jiopulalion. (.ancer of the female hreast occurred at the rate of lO.o among the white and Ifl.O among the colored jiojnilation. (.ancer ol the prostate prevailed at the rate of 6.1 among the white male ]io)iulation. against a rate of 1.6 for colored males. These rates show that this form of cancer is decidedly more common among the white population. Cancer of the male generative organs prevailed at the rate of U.6 among the white jiopulation and 2.8 among the colored. This form of disease is also more common among the colored at the present time than among the whites. It should perhaps have been pointed out in this connection that the foregoing contrasts of sexual and racial differences in cancer liability are based on the following number of actual deaths thus far concerned in the investigation. The total number of certificates was 9,592. Of this number 8-10 were from Albany, N. Y.; 105 from Buffalo; 3,163 from Chicago; 681 for the white population of New' Orleans; 519 for the colored population of New Orleans; and 3,294 for San Francisco. It has been my intention to review some further aspects on the cancer problem as revealed by the San Francisco cancer survey, but it is reserved for some future occasion. The survey at the present time includes nearly 20.000 death certificates, and the outlook is that by the end of 1926 nearly 30,000 certificates will have been dealt with. Nor have I been able at the present time to review the material collected by means of questionnaires, of which approximately 2,000 have now been returned to me. I have found this method of exceptional value, though much depends upon the con¬ tinuity of my efforts to enlarge the plan and scope of the investigation to make it representative for both this country and Canada. In conclusion I may add that I purpose in the near future to consider with reasonable thoroughness the cancer problem in the Republic of Mexico, with particular reference to occurrence of malignant diseases among different racial elements in different parts of the republic. It is possible that this investigation may be extended to Guatemala and British Honduras. For the time being I am merely presenting the statistical results of my investigations which aim at the collective impartial jiresenta- tion of available cancer facts. Only those who have for many years been concerned with investigations of this kind can realize its burdensome and time-taking effort in doing justice to every aspect of the problems under consideration. We are not at the end of our cancer investigations, but