Cancer causes.. wat do u think?

Question

some of these are just down right stupid! here are some from a yahoo thingy
2. Living in a polluted city is a greater risk for lung cancer than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.
3. Some injuries can cause cancer later in life.
4. Electronic devices, like cell phones, can cause cancer in the people who use them.
5. What someone does as a young adult has little effect on their chance of getting cancer later in life.
6. Long-time smokers cannot reduce their cancer risk by quitting smoking.
8. Personal products, like shampoo, deodorant and antiperspirants, can cause cancer.
9. Getting a mammogram, or using a special X-ray machine to detect breast cancer, can cause cancer of the breast.
10. Getting a base tan or base coat at a tanning salon will provide protection from skin cancer when
11. Underwire bras can cause breast cancer.
iv also heard that sugar free gum causes cancer wat do u think??

wait i think that #2 and 8 and some of the others are just down right absurd!

Answer 1

When it comes to poisons and toxins, the route of administration makes a huge difference. To take your causes in order:
1) Many big cities have bad air pollution. New York City has fairly clean air compared to Mexico City, but even so just living in NYC is the equivalent of smoking 2 packs a day. And, as far as lung cancer goes, some people are simply more susceptible than others (women, for instance, have smaller lungs than men and so are more susceptible to lung cancer from smoking).
3) A sunburn is an injury. And yes, a sunburn can much later cause, in a susceptible person, skin cancer. Inhaling asbestos is injurious to the lungs, and this can cause lung cancer too.
4) Cell phone radiation has been subjected to quite a bit of testing. As far as I know, the answer to this is no.
5) False. Exposure to benzene in utero can cause cancer later in that person's life. A young person who handles radioactive materials without adequate protection could die fairly rapidly.
6) Unfortunately, not so simple. The tar in your lungs will clear out within 6 weeks or so, which will make it easier to breathe. This does not mean however that the genetic mutations in the lung tissue have not already begun. Once they've begun, cancer is on the way, even if you quit smoking. The message is, never take it up.
8) These products all go on the skin, which is fairly resistant to cancer from chemicals. The skin is susceptible to damage from ultraviolet radiation, x-rays, gamma rays, etc. It's highly unlikely that these products cause cancer.
9) False. False, false, false.
10) Tans do protect you from getting sunburned, but even with a tan the skin gets damaged by the Sun. So the answer to this is, probably false.
11) This is ludicrous.

Answer 2

Well, I would agree with #2, #3, #4, #8 and #9. Cancer is not a "disease" in the sense you do not "catch it" by meeting someone walking the opposite direction down the hall as with a cold, fly, pneumonia, etc. It is the body's cells that change the basic processing and start to divide and multiply rapidly. To a certain extent, this is natural. Natural radiation in the soil, air and water cause cancers; some cause mutations. Otherwise, every single human would have the exact same DNA.
It's the stuff that can kill a person that we need to watch out for. Some cancers are so slow that, if contracted late in life, will probably not cause death.
As to #11, I would say it is possible, if it rubs enough to cause a sore that cannot heal.

Answer 3

Some of these are accurate, some are old wives tales, some have been disproven. Bit of a mixed bag.

2 false
3 true
4 Not proven, probably false
5 false
6 They can reduce it, but the risk of heart disease or stroke drops much more if they quit.
8 false, thats why they test on animals!
9 total rubbish!
10 very very wrong. A sunbed session increases the risk of cancer and a fake chemical tan offers no protection from UV.
11 Not very likely.

Answer 4

No one knows what 'causes' cancer. Your list is basically made up of what is considered to be myth and half truths.

Common Cancer Myths Debunked
http://www.livescience.com/health/070726_cancer_myths.html

How Much Do You Know About Cancer Risk Factors?
Misplaced Beliefs Could Lead to Risky Behavior
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_How_Much_Do_You_Know_About_What_Causes_Cancer.asp

2. Myth: Air Pollution or Smoking: Which is Greater Risk?http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_11_1_Pollution_Versus_Tobacco.asp

3. Myth: Do Injuries Cause Cancer?http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_11_1_Do_Injuries_Cause_Cancer.asp

4. No proof: Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer?
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_11_1_Do_Cell_Phones_Cause_Cancer.asp

5. True: Early Lifestyle Choices and Cancer
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_11_1_Early_Lifestyle_Choices_and_Cancer.asp

6. Common Cancer Myths Debunked

8. Email Myth: Antiperspirants and Breast Cancer Risk
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/content/MED_6_1x_Antiperspirants.asp

9. Common Cancer Myths Debunked

10. Common Cancer Myths Debunked

11. Myth: Bras and Breast Cancer
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/content/MED_6_1x_Underwire_Bras.asp?sitearea=MED

Answer 5

I personally think that the vast majority of cancers are caused by something chemical acting on the body. Back in the early 1900's the cancer rates were less than 10% of what they are now. What has changed? Chlorine in our water for one thing. A good idea for killing germs, but it needs to be removed before you drink it - get some kind of water filter for your house. How about all the cleaning chemicals in the average house? There are many alternative cleaners that are not poisonous - Shaklee and Melaleuca manufacture entire lines of products that are better for you to use. Personal care products that use formaldehyde!! For crying out loud why doesn't our government prohibit this?? You really need to be aware of all of these things.

Answer 6

some studies suggest that a type of bacteria, Helicobacter pylori, which may cause stomach inflammation and ulcers, can be an important risk factor for this disease. Also, research shows that people who have had stomach surgery or have pernicious anemia, achlorhydria, or gastric atrophy (which generally result in lower than normal amounts of digestive juices) have an increased risk of stomach cancer. Exposure to certain dusts and fumes in the workplace has been linked to a higher than average risk of stomach cancer. Also, some scientists believe smoking may increase stomach cancer risk. People who think they might be at risk for stomach cancer should discuss this concern with their doctor. The doctor can suggest an appropriate schedule of checkups so that, if cancer appears, it can be detected as early as possible.

Answer 7

I don't believe everything I hear, and yes some of these sayings sound stupid. You can lead a healthy life and still develop cancer. Children are born with cancers. So those are all statistics and you just never know. We have three different kinds of cancer in our family (sister, mother, aunt) and nobody else has developed those types of cancers otherwise.

Answer 8

Well, cancer is caused by...living! I don't remember very well, but apparently almost everyone has the cells or genetics or w/e to have cancer. Later in life, something breaks down to allow that cancer to...cancer...you...

Answer 9

Who really knows? I do believe a few of them, but I don't care! I live life to the fullest and if I want to tan or chew sugar-free gum, I well!

Answer 10

pretty much anything could cause cancer,

cancer happens when your immune system becomes impaired and doesn't successfuly lyse the cancer cells and you get uncontrolled growth. Environmental and genetic factors are mainly to blame.. hope this helps