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Cancer Prevention and The Precautionary Principle
For most people who know anything about cancer prevention (which is less than four per cent of the population of the UK, according to CANCERactive´s own research), preventing cancer means eating a ´healthy´ diet, avoiding too much alcohol, taking regular exercise, not smoking and not burning in the sunshine.
The UK Government and leading cancer agencies have told us that ´50 per cent of cancers are our own fault´. But what about the other 50 per cent? How do we prevent cancer there?
But is smoking actually proven to cause cancer? Well, nowadays there are a number of studies for various cancers like colon and breast, not just lung cancer, that seem to indicate smokers have a higher risk. But in a court of law the evidence could be deemed circumstantial. Moreover, the Epidemology studies that first led scientists to tell people to give up smoking as a way of peventing cancer, have also shown an increased cancer risk for cows´ dairy. Which health bodies and governments include giving up cows´ dairy in their recommendations on cancer prevention?
And what about Environmental Toxins, from asbestos to pesticides? Or chemicals that mimic oestrogen in the body, like phthalates, partabens and BPA? Who includes these in their lists of possible ways of preventing cancer?
Or Mobile phones and masts - what is the truth? Or toiletries, personal care products and cleaning products in your home?
We could add some more you may not have thought of, like parasites and yeasts, or even prescription drugs.
Are all of the above really causes of cancer? In expert research they have been linked to increased risk, and if you are interested in preventing cancer, you should know about these increased risks.
Cancer Prevention is a complex business. Did I say business? Well of course there are often business and political issues involved in cancer prevention announcements. Declare that smoking causes cancer and half a dozen firms may object and lobby their MP or a Health Minister. Declare that cows´ dairy causes cancer and 80,000 French farmers will blockade the roads and bring France to a standstill!
Often, the very same companies that work with Governments and cancer charities to develop new cures have other business interests producing chemicals, pesticides or household, toiletry and personal care products, about which cancer prevention groups express serious concerns which they support with research evidence. Yet look to see if the cancer charity you support mentions their serious concerns over these ´environmental´ toxins. Sadly, vested interest plays a big part in cancer prevention!
The World Health Organisation and cancer prevention
The World Health Organisation have produced the definitive paper on preventing cancer. It says that if you want to prevent cancer you should know that the main cancer causes are poor diet, toxins and infection. But what about ´mental state? Top health bodies seem in denial that stress could cause cancer, yet only recently there was research clearly showing it did. We also know that stress increases cortisol levels and these have a negative effect on local cellular environments, while depression reduces oxygen levels in the blood by 30 per cent or so. And this encourages cancer formation. Why is this not included in the definitive study on cancer prevention?
Take pesticides as another example. Left completely out of the UK Government White Paper in 2004, fortunately the EU has declared that pesticides are a danger to health, ´including cancer´.
Preventing cancer is hardly simple and clear, is it?
Cancer Prevention: Direct and indirect causes
It is also quite possible that no single factor caused your cancer. It could be a mixture of any number of the above - both direct causes, and indirect causes (for example things that weaken your immune system to let a rogue cell through).
Every day each of us makes 200 or so pre-cancer cells and these are mopped-up by your immune system. However, if you weaken your immune system (poor diet, toxins and infection will all do this) you run the risk of cancer cells taking hold.
So with all that in mind all we can says is that there seem to be some factors, which taken in conjunction with various other weaknesses, may well have a finger pointed at them, if not conclusively. Many indirect causes are involved in preventing cancer.
At CANCERactive we take a precautionary stance to cancer prevention - the only sensible stance to take in our opinion. Where there is a body of expert research expressing concern over possible risks to your health, especially a heightened risk of cancer, we believe it is only responsible that we pass on the information to you so that you can make more informed choices and so be satisfied that you are doing everything in your power to prevent cancer.
Its your right to know
CANCERactive takes a 3D approach to Cancer Prevention:
- Diet and lifestyle
- Dangers (chemical and environmental)
- Disease (viruses, infection, parasites)
Rather than just tell you that you should quit smoking, stay out of the sun and eat 5 lots of fruit and vegetables a day, we take a slightly fuller, we think more responsible, look at the science. But then we have no vested interests, no trustees or directors who also work for companies that make pesticides, or promote mobile phones, or sell you products that might increase the toxins in your home. We are free to simply tell you the truth. True, this is a much more 3 dimensional approach than that of the other major UK charities, but we are not alone in the global scheme - other countries do have charities that take a similar, more concerned, 3 Dimensional and Precautionary stance.
To make finding articles easier for you, you just have to click here:
* Diet and Lifestyle
* Dangers
* Disease
The CANCERactive 3D approach to Cancer Prevention.
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Important Notice
This website represents a precis of a vast number of varied sources available to anyone on the subject of cancer, its prevention and cure. Whilst CANCERactive and Health Issues, the publishers and authors, have made every effort to ensure that the facts, information and conclusions are accurate and as up to date as possible at the time of publication, the authors and publishers assume no responsibility for errors, omissions, or their consequences.
Some of the articles have been prepared by professors and doctors, others by journalists in discussion with professionals.
However, we are neither fully qualified health practitioners nor doctors of medicine, and so not qualified to give any advice on any medical matters. Cancer (and its related illnesses) is a very serious and very individual disease. Readers must consult with experts and specialists in the appropriate medical field before taking, or refraining from taking, any action.
This website, and the advice contained, is not intended as an alternative to such specialist advice, which should be sought for accurate diagnosis and before any course of treatment.
The authors and the publishers cannot be held responsible for any actions that are taken by any reader as a result of information contained in the text of this website. Such action is taken entirely at the readers own risk.
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