Results of an experiment in the control of pelvic cancer

Abstract

Early in 1938, members of the Department of Gynecology at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania undertook a clinical research to detemmine the value of periodic pelvic examination in the control of pelvic cancer. On Jan. 4, 1940, at a meeting of this Society, I had the honor to make a report on the first two years of this research. In June, 1944, a five-year report was made at a meeting of the American Medical Association in Chicago. In June, 1948, a ten-year report was made at another meeting of the same Association, also in Chicago. I appreciate this opportunity to acquaint the members of the Obstetrical Society of Philadelphia with the results of the research, to date. During the year 1938 and the early part of 1939, Dr. Sturgis, Dr. Fetterman, and I succeeded in interesting in our experiment 1,319 white women, 30 to 80 years of age, presumably well. They secured the approval of their family physicians and agreed to come for pelvic examination twice a year for five years. At the end of the five-year period some of the volunteers felt that they had made their contribution to medical science and were not interested in continuing. Others, together with the examining physicians, were eager to continue for another five years. At the end of ten years, in 1948, a determined few decided to sign up for another five-year period or “For as long as we last,” said one. This report will deal chiefly with a group of 666 volunteers who have continued for the thirteen-year period.The research has received financial support from the American Medical Association, from the International Cancer Research Foundation, from the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Divisions of the American Cancer Society, from the New York Medical Women's Association, and from private individuals. The cost has been approximately $2000.00 per year for secretarial service, statistical service, supplies, stationary, etc. The examining physicians gave their services. The examinees paid no fee.