Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Linked, sometimes wrongly, to cancer


Its been awhile but I'm back and better then ever. well kind of lol. well lets get to the point, i picked this article because everyone know this is true at one point almost everything was linked to cancer.. so what does that mean for us?? well it can mean two things .. either everything is toxic for us and we are all going to have cancer at some point in out life, or its all speculation and someone is sharing their findings to a magazine so its reported and talked about , when in reality the chances of getting Cancer are slim to none. either way hopefully we all live long healthy cancer free lives.

Many everyday products have been linked to cancer at some point in the past several decades. Preposterous? Not at the time, and new suspects have been added to the list. Here's the real story behind ordinary household items that have come under scrutiny:

Artificial sweeteners

The link: Calorie watchers scored a win when diet sodas were introduced in the early 1950s. Then lab studies suggested that the sweetener cyclamate caused bladder cancer in rats, and the Food and Drug Administration banned its use. Then saccharin, the replacement of choice, was also shown to cause tumors in rats. Although saccharin was never banned, all products containing the sweetener were required to carry a cancer warning on their packaging.

The reality: No evidence has since emerged that either cyclamate, which is used in other countries, or saccharin causes cancer in humans, according to the National Cancer Institute. Although cyclamate is still banned, saccharin was taken off the government's list of possible carcinogens in 2000, the same year saccharin products shed the warning label. The sweetener aspartame has come under suspicion, but scientists have found no increased risk of cancer in humans.

Mouthwash

The link: A few studies since the late 1970s have tied mouthwash that contains ethanol to oral cancer. Investigators theorize that it may make oral tissues more vulnerable to known carcinogens, such as those in cigarettes.

The reality: The evidence against mouthwash is weak, according to the American Dental Association. Studies don't show, for example, that brands with higher alcohol content present a greater risk than those with lesser amounts. Mouthwash is safe when used as directed, says the ADA. People who smoke, have a family history of oral cancer or have other risk factors may want to choose alcohol-free brands to be on the safe side, the ADA says.

Statins

The link: Could these cholesterol-lowering drugs raise the risk of cancer? A 2007 study inspired this belief when researchers investigating the side effects of certain statins — lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin and atorvastatin — found that participants taking high doses were more likely to be diagnosed with various cancers, including those of the breast, colon and prostate.

The reality: A 2008 review of 15 clinical trials involving statins cast doubt on the initial results; low LDL cholesterol levels, the reviewers found, were associated with cancer, whether or not participants were taking statins, suggesting that cholesterol levels, not the drugs, were to blame.

Cell phones

The link: In 1993, a man suing the manufacturer of his wife's mobile phone claimed on "Larry King Live" that the device was responsible for her brain cancer. The broadcast provoked a public outcry, a rash of similar lawsuits, and millions of dollars poured into studying whether radio waves emitted by cell phones could be harmful.

The reality: The largest study to date, published last spring, could neither confirm nor dismiss a connection between cell phones and cancer. Scientists tracked nearly 13,000 adults for a decade and found a slightly higher rate of one of four cancers — gliomas, a particularly aggressive variety of brain cancer — among frequent cell users. But cell users overall had a lower rate of the cancers than never-users.

Antiperspirant/parabens/deodorant

The link: A decade ago, an e-mail warning women that using antiperspirant could cause breast cancer went viral. Since then, some research has suggested that aluminum in antiperspirants and preservatives called parabens in antiperspirants and deodorants mimic the hormone estrogen, which in high amounts can increase breast cancer risk.

The reality: There's no evidence that antiperspirants or deodorants cause cancer. A 2004 study heightened concern when researchers found parabens in breast cancer tissue samples, suggesting that the chemicals may have caused the tumors, but the investigators didn't check for the presence of parabens in healthy tissue. Evidence suggests that 99 percent of us are exposed to parabens, including from various cosmetics and foods, according to the American Cancer Society. Little evidence indicates they may be harmful.

Hair dye

The link: In 2008, researchers from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer revived concern of a hair dye-cancer connection after finding a pattern of bladder cancer in male hairdressers and barbers. They found too little evidence to say whether people who used the products every so often at home were also at risk.

The reality: The finding was based on studies conducted at different times, so any increased risk could result from heavy exposure to chemicals that were discontinued decades ago after scientists discovered they caused cancer in rodents. It's unclear whether the chemicals used in current dyes cause cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Most evidence, however, does not support a link.Distributed by Tribune Media Services

Original Article
BAYHO.com