Chapter K1. 'Advanced' Topics (Part III)
11. Switch Religions? - Jewish women are recognized by cancer
researchers to be at a higher BC risk than average; part of this
increased risk is genetic ( Ashkenazi Jews ) but not most of the
risk. Mormons and Seventh Day Adventist are recognized to have
a reduced BC risk. Should Jewish women become Mormons and move
to Utah? No. Seventh Day Adventists are known for their healthy
diet and Mormons tend to abstain from alcohol and tobacco and
have larger than normal families (also younger age of first birth).
How about exercise differences between religious groups? Some
researchers should examine this unexplored area.
References:
Lyon JL, et al. Cancer incidence in Mormons and Non-Mormons in
Utah During 1967-75, JNCI, 1980; 65:1055-1061
Phillips R, et al., Mortality Among California Seventh-Day
Adventists for Selected Cancer Sites, JNCI, 1980; 65:1097-1107
12. Toxic Environment is the 'real' cause of cancer, right? - When
researchers want to increase a rat's odds of contracting cancer,
what to they do? Very often, they give the rats a carcinogen (a
cancer causing chemical) such as DMBA. Oncologists give cancer
patients chemotherapy, toxic chemicals that tend to be more lethal
to rapidly multiplying cells (such as cancer cells) than normal
cells. Any possible side-effects from 'chemo'? Yes, one of them
is cancer; (but, if oncologists can prove that the 'all-cause'
mortality is substantially lower from using 'chemo' than not
using it, they have a good argument in favor of 'chemo').
Highly polluted cities have higher 'all-cause' mortality that low
pollution cities. There is no question that toxins in the air,
land, and water cause cancer (and many other maladies). Question:
for every 100 cancers, how many are caused by toxins/pollution?
There are some who claim (speculate would be more accurate) that
the percent of cancers due to pollution lies between 50% and 80%.
There is no strong published support for such claims. Since
it is known that pollution is causing substantial health damage,
COST/EFFECTIVE cleanup should continue, if not accelerate. To
discuss anything intelligently, one must define one's terms.
What does the term 'environmental toxin' include and what should
it EXCLUDE? People who directly poison themselves ( e.g.
'first-hand' smoking of cigars or cigarettes ) can not claim
'environmental' cancer, since they have absolute control ( and
knowledge) over this source of toxins. Thus environmental poll-
ution is toxins in the air, water, land, & food over which
people have little or no control. Are women's cancers mostly due
to the environment? The four leading fatal female cancers are
(in decreasing frequency order): 1. lung 2. breast 3. colon/
rectal 4. pancreatic Lung cancer kills more U.S. women than any
other specific cancer. Main cause: first-hand cigarette smoking;
thus, NOT environmental. Breast cancer: as shown in this entire
document women can reduce their BC risk by at least 80% via the
RED Triangle (early first birth, at least one additional birth,
breastfeeding, vigorous exercise, late menarche, optimum diet,
no synthetic estrogen, etc.). Colon/rectal cancer:
can be reduced about 50% via high fiber and optimum diet;
Exercise is also effective in reducing the risk of colon cancer.
Pancreatic cancer: no BOOZE and an optimum diet are key in
reducing the risk of pancreatic cancer.
It is clear that the environment does NOT cause a majority of
women's cancers. So, should you draw most of your air from the
tail pipe of a belching car? Probably not. Still not convinced
that polluted environment is not the dominant cause of cancer?
Then you will have to 'explain Utah'. Utah and Nevada are
neighboring states with similar climates, incomes, demography,
etc. Are the cancer rates about equal? NO! A 'recent' U. of
California study says that middle-aged Utah residents have only
34 percent the normal cancer death rate,. (Toronto Star, Dec. 6,
1989). Victor Fuchs's book (Who Shall Live?, page 54) gives us a
clue why Nevada people are not as healthy as Utah people:
diseases caused by tobacco and alcohol in Nevada (Utah = 100%)
age males females
30-39 590% 443%
40-49 111% 296%
50-59 206% 205%
60-69 117% 227%
Utah women have better 'reproductive factors' than Nevada women
(and definitely a better National Basketball team, The Utah Jazz).
Another challenge to 'the environment is the main enemy' crowd:
The average Japanese lives longer that the average American.
Japanese women have about an 80% lower risk of breast cancer than
U.S. women. Is Japan's environment cleaner that of the U.S.
environment? NO! However, the Japanese for over two decades
have started to 'westernize' their diet and their cancer rates
are higher than they were in the 1950s.
Dr. Samuel S. Epstein is a strong believer that environmental
toxins are a major cause of cancer. You are invited to visit his
website for more infomation about toxins and cancer: