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The Failure of Therapy to Reduce Disease

Denis Burkitt, MD, FRCS, FRS

Arch Surg. 1991;126(3):345-347.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

In a therapeutically oriented medical climate, a highly unacceptable fact that is rarely considered yet indisputable is that with rare exceptions of some highly contagious infections, there is no evidence that the incidence of any disease was ever reduced by treatment. Infective disease was conquered by reduction in exposure to infective agents by improved hygiene and protection against infective agents by immunization and improved nutrition. Improved therapy did much to reduce mortality but not to reduce incidence.¹ The inability of therapy to reduce incidence of disease applies totally in the realm of noninfective disease, and particularly with regard to cancer.

However, the vast majority of effort and facilities devoted to cancer research is directed to advances in treatment, with the second priority given to screening programs attempting earlier diagnosis. Is there any evidence that the incidence of any form of cancer has ever been reduced by improved treatment or . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Footnotes
Accepted for publication December 8, 1990.

Presented as the Lucy Wortham James Lecture at the 43rd Annual Cancer Symposium of the Society of Surgical Oncology, Washington, DC, May 21, 1990.

Reprint requests to Hartwall Cottage, Wells RA, Bisley, Gloucester, England GL6 7AG.

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