Percy Ellis Thompson Hancock
BMJ 2004; 328 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.328.7451.1322-c (Published 27 May 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;328:1322Data supplement
Percy Ellis Thompson Hancock
Former consultant physician Royal Free and Royal Marsden hospitals, London (b 4 February 1904; q Cambridge/St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, 1931; FRCP 1944), d 8 Jan 2004.
Percy Thompson Hancock was trained at Caius College, Cambridge, and Barts, where he became Lord Horder’s chief assistant and followed him to the Marsden, starting as registrar in 1938. It was during the 1950s and 1960s when chemotherapy emerged as a new treatment for cancer and the NHS was introduced that Percy, as senior physician, played a crucial part in the new developments. He was ideally placed, with his courteous and unruffled manner, to ensure that clinical medicine became firmly established in the hospital alongside surgery and radiotherapy. Surgery was the main treatment since it was founded in 1851 and radiotherapy came in some 60 years later. During his tenure the Institute of Cancer Research was made independent of the hospital and the new building at Sutton took place.
He was appointed the first director of clinical research at the hospital. He set up a chair of medicine, funded by the institute, the first in the country. He started the first well woman clinic to screen for breast cancer. His own interest focused firstly on gastroscopy following a visit to Germany in 1934, where he saw Professor Rudolf Schindler’s much improved semi-flexible instrument just before he was interned by the Gestapo. Percy recognised its value in cancer diagnosis by trying suction before the days of forceps. Later, at the Marsden, he worked on leukaemia, helping set up the first reverse barrier nursing trials at Sutton; on polycythaemia with the trials on radioactive phosphorous, and the lymphomas for earlier treatment. He travelled the world extensively lecturing and holding clinics.
Of his other medical activities, he represented the College of Physicians at the Institute of Cancer Research. He was physician and governor at the Royal Free Hospital, senior medical examiner at the University of London, president of the Leukaemia Society, president of the oncology section at the Royal Society of Medicine. And when time allowed, there was his private practice in Harley Street!
He played in the tennis teams at Caius and Barts, won the National Milk Challenge Trophy in 1952 with his pedigree Ayrshire cattle, and was the first of three in this country to be dubbed a "Chevalier du Tastevin," a Burgundian order!
His first wife, "Blue," died in 1953, and their two daughters, Judith and Caroline, survive with their families. His second wife, Laurie, died in 1999. Percy died peacefully down in Somerset less than a month before his 100th birthday. [Trevor Hudson]
See more
- Introductory AddressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 1-4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.1
- Report of the Meeting of the Eastern Branch of the Provincial Association at Bury St. Edmond'sProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 10-13; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.10
- Mr. Warburton's Bill for the Regulation of the Medical ProfessionProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 13-15; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.13
- An Atlas of Plates, illustrative of the Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine and Surgery, with descriptive LetterpressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4
- A Practical Treatise on the Diseases peculiar to Women, illustrated by Cases, &cProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4-5; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4-a