--- Jan Coffey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- Han Tacoma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Chad (Wed, 4 Jun 2003 09:05:30 -0700) writes: > > > > From: Steve Sloan II > > > > Han Tacoma forwarded:
> > > > > Cancer was responsible for 12 percent of > the nearly 56 > > > > > million deaths worldwide from all causes in > 2000. In industrialized countries more than one in > four people > > > > > will die from the disease, a rate more than > twice as high as developing countries. > > > > Could it be because people in industrialized > countries > > > > are more likely to live long enough to *get* > cancer? > > > I think so, but the numbers only suggested a > modest increase due to age - > > > about 25% more likely. Industrial countries have > a 50% greater incidence of > > > cancer. Lifestyle still seems to be the most > common indicator for cancer > > >(obesity, smoking, viral infection). We eat a lot. > > Yes to all your comments. It seems however that > >Americans are really in a state of "denial" :-( > All true. However, > > A greater percent of diagnosis may have more to say > about the ability or > likelihood of diagnosing rather than, or in addition > to, the likelihood of the disease. > > Obesity is a serious problem for America, but are > smoking and viral infection more likely? Tobacco-related cancers are reputed to range from 50-90% of US cancers, viral-related 15-20% [previous citations/post]. About 25% of American men smoke, and 20% of American women; here are pie and bar graphs relating tobacco stats (diseases, percentage of population smoking - with breakdown by age, pregnancy, etc. etc. - site is American Lung Assoc. - lots of gov't. data): http://www.lungusa.org/data/smoke/smk2.pdf Obesity, which is related to breast and colon cancers (with possible others), is very prevalent in the US population, and is growing in Europe as well. From the 1999 NHANES, 61% of US adults are overweight or obese; 26% are obese (BMI > 30%). http://www.healthieryou.com/obstats.html European obesity conference (just ended) report: http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/diet.fitness/06/01/obesity.epidemic.reut/ This site lists a number of known virally-induced cancers, but none of these are among the "top" killer cancers (lung, colon, breast); HIV is associated with a number of cancers, and by impairing the host's immune system makes other cancers (virally triggered [eg Kaposi's, hepatitis] or not) more likely to occur. While papilloma virus is widespread, only several 'types' cause cervical/anal cancer, and that is ~100% curable if caught early (which Pap smears can do). Most sarcomas I've seen listed as viral-induced are animal, except for possible EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) in certain immume-suppressed persons (post-transplant or with AIDS). Although there is the possibility that simian virus-contaminated polio vaccine is related to certain tumors re: "recent reports of SV40 DNA sequences in human ependymomas, mesotheliomas, and osteosarcomas" -- this has not been borne out thus far by epidemiological surveys. http://dceg.cancer.gov/ebp/veb/ This pdf article discussses viruses (at the end), and goes over environmental, occupational, and genetic factors as well as the role of diet/nutrition in the probable etiology of many cancers. It has a brief discussion of "oncogenes" and the possible relationship of viruses (which can snip out and propagate some DNA or RNA, and well as 'insert' and 'turn on' genes) to induction of malignancies. http://reach.ucf.edu/~OncEduc1/PDF/sec2.pdf This site has links to many abstracts of infectious causes of cancer: http://www.pedid.chkd.org/004.htm Here is a list of articles that note cancers related to infections (viral, bacterial, protozoal, parasitical), but only the titles are available: http://www.medscape.com/content/1999/00/41/77/417716/417716_ref.html It is likely that other some chronic illnesses, such as multiple sclerosis, are related to viral infection-> alteration of a genetically susceptible host's immune system; certain chemicals may also be triggers/inducers in susceptible persons (I'm working on that post still!). While you can't change your genes (yet), lifestyle changes such as avoidance of tobacco and illicit IV drugs, exercise and eating habits to keep weight below obesity level, and a diet rich in varied fruits/vegetables/nuts is probably the best way to reduce cancer risk (as well as heart disease!) for now. Debbi You've Come A Long Way, Baby -- A Long, Long Way Maru (picture a skinny old woman with yellowed skin, teeth and nails, sucking on a cigarette through her tracheostomy, coughing and wheezing all the while) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM). http://calendar.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
