CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Vol 30, 115-122, Copyright
© 1980 by American Cancer Society
Cancer Studies in Massachusetts. 2. Habits, Characteristics and Environment of Individuals with and without Cancer
Herbert L. Lombard M.D. and
Carl R. Doering M.D.
Variations in the habits of cancer patients cannot be studied without the use of good controls, which are most difficult to obtain. We believe our sample to be as nearly satisfactory as is reasonably possible to get on a large scale.
As only large differences between controls and cancers need be considered the size of the sample is adequate.
The collection of data on cancer patients without similar data on controls is valueless in the determination of factors influencing the causation of cancer.
Bad teeth in males are more common among the cancer group than among the controls. This applies to cancer in general and is not limited to buccal cavity cancer.
Heavy smoking is more common in the cancer group than among the controls. In our sample heavy smoking was largely pipe smoking and was particularly more common in those individuals with cancer of the buccal cavity.
The figures gave a suggestion of a hereditary predisposition to cancer but the volume of unknowns made definite conclusions impossible.
The cancer group ate less than the controls but this probably is wholly due to the presence of the disease.
Although we realize that the figures in this study are too small and incomplete for significant conclusions to be drawn, they are presented to show the methods used in order that others may conduct similar studies. We feel that other independent samples collected in a like manner would do much to either prove or disprove our findings.
