Pope Pius XII on Cancer

The progress of research

Since then research has continued to progress; public opinion has become ever more aware of everything that concerns the problem of cancer. One need only think of the excitement that is aroused by the announcement of some discovery to measure the eager expectancy of those who suffer and of their friends who are unable to help them. In most cases, unfortunately, the news arouses passing hopes only. Your army of research workers has behind it a vast experience, and so many analyzed and classified documents, that it can have no illusions about the complexity of the problems and the extreme difficulty of a real solution.

International cooperation

That is why you feel the need of frequently pooling the fruits of your research and of putting into some perspective the immense campaign which is being waged over the whole globe, in all latitudes and in every social situation, in order the better to define the causes and specific nature of malignant tumors. We are especially familiar with the considerable work of the International Union against Cancer, which is striving to establish a unity among organizations of various countries which are devoted to the fight against cancer.

At the present time, various branches of the Union are assembled in meeting. Among them are the Research Commission, the Commission on Social Strife, the Commission of International Congresses, and the Executive Committee, whose job it is to apportion and coordinate the work, an essential task of this extraordinarily impressive organization. We are pleased to mention, too, among recent projects, the first Symposium on Antibiotics which was held last year by the Italian League for the Prevention of Tumors.

The immensity of the task

Each of you represents a particular branch of research, a whole family of scholars, of renowned institutions, endowed with means of investigation, with experimental and material resources, which are undoubtedly large but, nevertheless, insufficient for the immense task which claims your attention. Actually, the disease is everywhere and is spreading. It manifest a itself under a thousand forms and seems to come from the most varied sources. Its ultimate cause still escapes science. Science is still in the stage of observation and defense, unable as yet to take arms against cancer in the decisive battle which is awaited all over the world.

The contribution of etiology

Etiology, however, is the one field which has already furnished interesting contributions which are useful in many cases. The study of occupational tumors and the methodically conducted experiments on animals have brought to light certain factors which combine in bringing about cancer. Your meetings have highlighted one point of these research projects: the attempt to measure the possible role of certain chemical ingredients in food in initiating carcinomas.

Cancerigenous substances

The existence of the so-called cancerigenous substances has been known for some time. In the 18th century, the English surgeon, Percival Pott, pointed out the connection between tumors in chimney sweeps and soot, with which they were constantly covered. The chemical agent was eventually discovered. Then, little by little, it was possible to determine the various groups of substances whose action increased the risk and presence of tumors. Though there have been no great indications of the mechanism which sets off the initial disorder, it has been established that the molecular system itself seems to work in conjunction with the aggressive nature of the guilty chemical substances. Certain aniline derivatives, in particular, occasionally used as coloring in food products, have been blamed, and the popular press has, as is its practice, seized upon such a declaration on the subject a declaration which you yourselves, without doubt, have already carefully evaluated.

Necessity of prompt diagnosis

In addition to the scientific problems connected with the battle against cancer, there are appreciable difficulties in the social sphere which complicate the situation. One of these is the exact diagnosis of the disease at the proper time. Clinical experience has demonstrated that there is no doubt that the chances for cure are closely connected with the speed with which cancer can be discovered.

Obstacles to early diagnosis

Now there are two obstacles to an early diagnosis: the patients, and the doctors themselves. Ignorance and negligence play a perilous part among the sick; illiteracy in particular, and a propensity to patent remedies, as well as an ignorance of hygienic laws and hesitancy about consulting a doctor. It has been noticed that these factors generally arise from the social and economic situation of the people concerned.

The doctor's problems

On the other hand, the doctor can also be responsible for the aggravation of cancer by his insufficient knowledge or indecision. 

At times he does not suspect or perceive the nature of the disorder. Then again, he may exaggerate the gravity or degree of incurability of the disease or use remedies which cannot bring any noticeable alleviation.

These errors may be excused, first of all, because diagnosis is frequently difficult, but also because of the inefficiency of health organizations which are deprived of the proper means of action. In such a situation, where a single doctor may run aground, a group of well-trained specialists would have no trouble in forming a sure judgment and in directing the treatment of the sick person along well-established lines,

Application of therapy

Once the presence of cancer has been established with certainty, the doctor must face a problem of another sort: the application of therapeutic means. Before he has recourse to such means as surgery, chemotherapy, X-rays, or radium, he must see clearly the end to be attained and the way in which each of these things is to be used.

Attention to the whole man

Before anything else, the doctor should consider the whole man, in the unity of his person, that is to say, not merely his physical condition but his psychological state as well as his spiritual and moral ideals and his place in society. What would be the practical consequences of the course the doctor prescribes? Just how great a risk would be attached to a serious operation which would be dangerous and bring great sacrifice in its wake? How would the sick man profit by it? Rather than impose upon the patient great and permanent illness, which would reduce him to an almost total inactivity, would it not be better if he were enabled to work as long as possible? On the other hand, it often happens that the desire to make the patient's life more comfortable and a little longer, and to bring him some modicum of indispensable comfort, will permit onerous treatment which at best offers little hope.

Science and understanding

In every case, the doctor is forced to a deep reflection, a real meditation, in which the human factors are taken into account more than others. The responsibility is indeed great for the man who must make the final decision. Pure science, in this case, is almost completely overshadowed in the face of a deep human understanding which is unselfish and sensitive to all the intangibles of the affective order, all the things by which a crass spirit is unaffected. Medicine takes much of its grandeur from the imperious demand which constrains it to pay untiring attention to the most lowly elements of the physical order as well as the secret motions of the spirit which are often strangely powerful in regard to the will.

Patience, perseverance, and prayer

At the close of these days of study, gentlemen, We should like to extend to you Our most sincere wishes and Our encouragement, because We cannot think without sorrow of the great amount of suffering which would be spared man-kind if the intimate nature and fundamental causes of cancer were better known.

We ask God to enlighten your minds and to stir up the insight which will advance science; but above all We beg from Him patience for each of you and perseverance in a task which is often tedious and deceiving. The man who is sustained by faith and the love of God and his neighbor will offer his efforts to the Lord with generosity in a prayer of supplication, when working with something which has often discouraged others.

Bodily and moral ills

If the Creator has allowed the powerful anomalies which we call carcinomas to operate, He has also allowed more serious anomalies, which we call sin and spiritual sickness. We sincerely hope that, in their great effort of fraternal collaboration, men will soon reach the point where they are able to prevent, reduce, or even suppress the first evils; but We would earnestly desire, even more, to see them unite ardently and with perseverance against moral evil, which is so much worse than any bodily illness. It would not be true to pretend that such a unity and such a battle do not exist and do not bear fruit; but how does it happen that so often there is lacking the intensity of application with which humanity seeks out and combats physical pain?

These thoughts were suggested to Us, gentlemen, by the examination of your admirable work, and We leave them to your consideration. We shall not fail to offer to the Almighty prayers for your very great success and, as an earnest of graces from above, and as a sign of Our paternal good-will, We give to all of you present, to your families, associates, and friends, Our most loving Apostolic Benediction.