Posted on 01/31/2005 10:18:52 PM PST by FairOpinion
The government is adding viruses for the first time to its list of known or suspected causes of cancer, including hepatitis B and C and a third virus that causes sexually transmitted diseases. Lead, X-rays and compounds in grilled meats are also joining the list.
It has been known that the hepatitis viruses can cause liver cancer and that some forms of the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus can cause cervical cancer.
But they were added to the list yesterday only after officials decided to go beyond the report's historical focus on the occupational and environmental causes of cancer, said Dr. Christopher Portier, the associate director of the National Toxicology Program, which prepared the latest update.
"We felt (the report) needed to be expanded to include other things in our general environment that can cause cancer," Portier said.
Dr. Michael Thun, who runs the American Cancer Society's epidemiological program, said that adding the viruses was important. "These are human carcinogens and very important carcinogens," he said.
The list, which now identifies 246 known or suspected cancer-causing agents, is intended to give people who may or may not be exposed to any of the substances something to think about, he said.
Take X-rays, added to the "known" category. "This is simply to remind them that when they are making a decision about an X-ray to think about it and talk it over with your physician," Portier said.
But the American College of Radiology faulted the addition of X-rays and gamma rays, saying that it was misleading and could prompt patients to avoid getting needed care.
"X-rays and gamma rays are not substances that the general public has access or exposure to and do not belong on a list of substances that pose a risk to people in the course of their normal, daily lives," Dr. James Borgstede, the chairman of the radiology college's board of chancellors, said in a statement.
New to the suspected category are substances that form when meats are cooked or grilled at high temperature. Studies suggest an increased cancer risk when foods containing them are eaten.
But "does that mean you have to throw out your barbecue grill?" asked Dr. Elizabeth Whelan, a critic of the list from the American Council on Science and Health, a consumer-education group.
She said that the "not consumer friendly" list should include information on the types of exposure and dosages that cause cancer, as well as on the health benefits of some of the substances identified, such as tamoxifen, the breast-cancer treatment pill.
The idea that infection/inflammation, possibly viruses and/or bacteria could be the root cause of other chronic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes is discussed in another thread:
Researchers find diabetes trigger, possible fix (inflammation link)
The whole virus-cancer hypothesis is BS IMHO.
http://www.duesberg.com/papers/ch1.html
Another scientific paper exposing the bogus virus/cancer link--TTS
http://www.duesberg.com/papers/ch5.html
vegetarians drop dead at age 50...(seen lots of those recently) I'll take my chances as a grilled meat lover and probably live to 80 and no regrets.
Whether this is bs or not, this Texan ain't givin' up his wood grilled steaks or fajatas or smoked brisket anytime in this lifetime ;)
They can take my grilling tools out of my cold dead hands.
If you take what other studies claim,add it to this one,and stir,EVERYTHING causes cancer.
In a recent article in the WSJ about prostate cancer, which focused on a guy in his 30s whose tests (and he kept getting tested!) were ambiguous, one doctor was quoted as saying that there's a good chance the vast majority of adults have some cancer cells somewhere in their bodies.
Just as women have yearly PAP smears,men from around 55 (except those with a family history of prostate cancer,who should be tested earlier and yearly!)should get a yearly PSI test. If found early,prostate cancer has one of THE highest survival rates for any cancer.
Maybe they should get a Prostate Specific Antigen test instead.
FR BBQ Bump
If the cow was standing in the sun for a day, it's rare. If it walks past a fire, it's medium. If it has grill marks, its burnt.
X-Ray and gamma rays are just being added to the list of cancer-causing agents NOW?
I think these new ideas about viruses are the tip of the iceberg. One day we will understand how these organisms contribute to a host of diseases like arthritis, crohns, diabetes and others.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) causes essentially all cervical cancers as well as approximately 1/3 of all vulvar cancers. This is firmly established.
BTW, cancer of the cervix is the second leading cause of cancer death among women world-wide so HPV is a very important killer.
"Human Papillomavirus (HPV) causes essentially all cervical cancers as well as approximately 1/3 of all vulvar cancers. This is firmly established."
Did you read the links to the papers I posted? If not, you are not aware of both sides of the scientific debate--TTS
"Human Papillomavirus (HPV) causes essentially all cervical cancers as well as approximately 1/3 of all vulvar cancers. This is firmly established."
Did you read the links to the papers I posted? If not, you are not aware of both sides of the scientific debate--TTS
Absolutely right. Twenty years ago it was heresy to suggest that peptic ulcer disease and cancer of the stomach are caused by infection. Now the link is solidly established.
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