Thread: Cancer Just Bad Luck

Most cases of cancer down to bad luck rather than lifestyle or inherited genes

Random mutations in DNA responsible for two thirds of adult cancers but poor lifestyle can add to ‘bad luck factor’, says study

• The Guardian, 1 January 2015 22.42 GMT

Most cases of cancer are the result of sheer bad luck rather than unhealthy lifestyles, diet or even inherited genes, new research suggest. Random mutations that occur in DNA when cells divide are responsible for two thirds of adult cancers across a wide range of tissues.
The remaining third are linked to environmental factors or defective inherited genes.
But the scientists warn that poor lifestyle can add to the “bad luck factor” involved in cancer.
The researchers analysed published data on the number of divisions of self-renewing stem cells that occur in an average lifetime in 31 different tissues.
These results were compared with the lifetime incidence of cancer in the same tissues.
A strong correlation was seen between a particular tissue’s stem cell division rate and its likelihood of developing cancer.
The more often cells divide, the more likely it is that letters of their genetic code will become jumbled, leading to an increased cancer risk.
Overall, the study found that random mutations due to stem cell division could explain around 65% of cancer incidence.
Professor Bert Vogelstein, from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the US, said: “All cancers are caused by a combination of bad luck, the environment and heredity, and we’ve created a model that may help quantify how much of these three factors contribute to cancer development.
“This study shows that you can add to your risk of getting cancers by smoking or other poor lifestyle factors. However, many forms of cancer are due largely to the bad luck of acquiring a mutation in a cancer driver gene regardless of lifestyle and heredity factors. The best way to eradicate these cancers will be through early detection, when they are still curable by surgery.”
Scientists have known for more than a century that some tissue types give rise to cancer millions of times more often than others, but why this should be so has not been clear.
The study, published in the journal Science, suggests that the answer chiefly lies in the number of times a tissue’s stem cells divide and replicate their DNA.
“Bad luck” mutations – which occur when one chemical letter in DNA is wrongly swapped for another during cell replication – largely explained 22 of the 31 cancer types studied. The remaining nine had incidence rates higher than predicted by bad luck, presumably due to the influence of environmental or inherited factors.
“We found that the types of cancer that had higher risk than predicted by the number of stem cell divisions were precisely the ones you’d expect, including lung cancer, which is linked to smoking; skin cancer, linked to sun exposure; and forms of cancers associated with hereditary syndromes,” Prof Vogelstein added.
People who live a long life despite exposure to cancer-causing agents such as tobacco are not so much blessed with good genes as good luck, said the professor.
He pointed out that large intestine tissue underwent four times more stem cell divisions than small intestine tissue. And colon cancer was much more prevalent than small intestine cancer.
In mice, the situation was reversed, with the colon undergoing fewer stem cell divisions and being less prone to cancer than the small intestine.
Co-author biomathematician Dr Cristian Tomasetti, also from Johns Hopkins University, said: “If two-thirds of cancer incidence across tissues is explained by random DNA mutations that occur when stem cells divide, then changing our lifestyle and habits will be a huge help in preventing certain cancers, but this may not be as effective for a variety of others,.
“We should focus more resources on finding ways to detect such cancers at early, curable stages.”

In other words, they cant justify their bullshit research.
Or in other words they are being paid off at higher levels not to publish valuable studies. It's all so crooked.

The people in charge do not want you to know the truth. That's a fact Jack!

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

In other words, they cant justify their bullshit research.
Or in other words they are being paid off at higher levels not to publish valuable studies. It's all so crooked.

The people in charge do not want you to know the truth. That's a fact Jack!

Generally speaking, this is stated correctly.

Wake the fuck up, people.

Have faith in the amulet...

Borey's opinion, based on fifty years of personal observation and uneducated deduction, was that we are slowly being poisoned to death by industrialized agriculture, processed foods, and chemical additives. This article assures him that he is all wrong. The experts chalk it up to bad luck.

Borey feels so stupid.

Originally Posted by thaimeme

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

In other words, they cant justify their bullshit research.
Or in other words they are being paid off at higher levels not to publish valuable studies. It's all so crooked.

The people in charge do not want you to know the truth. That's a fact Jack!

Generally speaking, this is stated correctly.

Wake the fuck up, people.

Oh yes, it's a big conspiracy to "hide the truth".
I observe that the people who claim these conspiracies typically have zero education in the applicable sciences and are unable to reveal the 'TRUTH' All that they do is make convoluted conspiracy claims. Alex Jones and other mental cripples play to to the left side of the Bell curve of intelligence.
I suggest you stick to following the instructions of those who are competent,and just be content to collect your benefits payment each month. Don't try to think as it may damage the few remaining cognitive neurons that you possess.

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Wonder how many ' experts ' were employed to form this study

Most of which after reading it is common knowledge and common sense

There must be thousands of these twatts in University.s around the world in these virtual non jobs

Still I suppose it gives the youngsters something to aspire to , become a ' professor' or any kind of modern day expert and you should have a long life with a body thats done very little by the time you retire

Hmm. On the one hand we have "nigelandjan", and on the other hand we have Bert Vogelstein, probably the most accomplished cancer biologists of our generation.

His studies have revolutionized our understanding of cancer biology, and he has made a difference to the lives of thousands of people by identifying the underlying cause of two different causes of hereditary colon cancer, information which is used worldwide in pre-symptomatic identification of carriers of hereditary disorders.

He is in the top 5 of scientists in the world.

What was it you have done again, nige?

Well put.

Fully agree with your assessment Borey. Way too many additives and chemicals in our food nowadays.....

Amina - First off, this is a 4+ year old thread. That being said, nothing wrong with reviving it.

Originally Posted by Amina

Way too many additives and chemicals in our food

Additives and chemicals all cost money. So, none are added without reason. All are added with the intent of "doing some good". As money is the root of all, for the most part, the reason they are added is usually for an additional profit. MSG/anti-spoiling agents to extend the shelf life of a food stuff, antibiotics to prevent bacterial growth, fertilization to increase crop yields, hormones to speed the growth of livestock and antibiotics to prevent sickness in livestock.

The point being, "additives" are profitable on the pro side, on the down side is the "potential" increase in the occurrence of a cancer.

Now, of course, for the health conscious, this has given rise to the large "organic" food craze. Interesting that unadulterated organic food cost more, and in some cases much more, than uhm... "regular" food. This of course is on the basis of supply and demand. Just ain't that much demand for organics.

On the subject of "cancer" - the Big C. A word that encompasses a great many varieties or variations. Our medical knowledge increase on an almost daily basis. Our tool box of weapons against cancer has never been fuller and continually increases. The Big C isn't the death sentence it once was.

And, now, everybody knows, "Early Detection" is the key. Life style changes help, but do not prevent, cancers. (and/or heart disease for that matter).

So - to minimize the chances of getting a cancer, eat well, exercise, do not "smoke" and stay educated. As our overall medical knowledge increases, change your lifestyle accordingly (within reason, or course). You, and to a lesser extent your family, suffer the consequences of your lifestyle.

Concerned about "additives" pay the additional premium for "organic foodstuffs".