asked the Minister for Health if in preparing propaganda intended to discourage excessive smoking he will consider pinpointing and underlining the importance of frequent X-rays in the case of heavy smokers, and point out that only cases of lung cancer detected in the very early stages are capable of effective treatment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cigarette Smoking and Lung Cancer.
5.
I agree that if a person cannot desist from heavy smoking, he would be very well advised to have the condition of his lungs checked regularly. However, my Department's propaganda on smoking is designed to discourage people from becoming or remaining heavy smokers. I fear that, should the Deputy's suggestion relating to this propaganda be accepted, the impression might be given that it was safe for a person to smoke heavily as long as he had frequent chest X-rays, which is not, of course, the case. Separate propaganda on the value of chest X-rays is conducted by the National Mass-Radiography Association. A leaflet widely distributed by the Association makes it clear that mass X-ray shows up other lung conditions as well as tuberculosis.
Is it not a fact that the certain diagnosis of really early cancer of the lung by X-rays alone is nearly impossible and that, even if it is diagnosed early, the only cure for it is a major operation requiring the removal of the lung? Even if this operation is carried out, it is unsuccessful in the cure of cancer in a big percentage of cases.
That is a purely medical question and I, as a layman, would not be prepared to hazard an answer to it.