What DOESN'T cause cancer?
October 17, 2008 1:57 AM Subscribe
What is guaranteed NOT to cause cancer?
A friend and I were discussing the various things that our mothers tell us cause cancer. Water bottles that have been left in a car (and have been heated and cooled repeatedly). Burnt toast. Too much sun.
It begs the question: what can I actually do that DOESN'T expose me to something carcinogenic? What verbs don't cause cancer? If I can't drink water or breathe air, what CAN I do?
A friend and I were discussing the various things that our mothers tell us cause cancer. Water bottles that have been left in a car (and have been heated and cooled repeatedly). Burnt toast. Too much sun.
It begs the question: what can I actually do that DOESN'T expose me to something carcinogenic? What verbs don't cause cancer? If I can't drink water or breathe air, what CAN I do?
If I can't drink water or breathe air, what CAN I do?
Yeah, I don't think there's much you can do other than stop breathing. Cancer doesn't happen because of environmental reasons alone, sometimes (most times?) it happens because... it just does. People have been dying of cancer for many thousands of years, not just since the toaster was invented*.
So I'd say, like bjrn, just stay away from the more obvious things and don't stress it. If you start worrying you might get cancer because of everything and anything, life won't be much fun anyway.
* First time I've heard burnt toast causes cancer. Never heard about the water either. All I can say: burnt toast tastes bad, and so does repeatedly heated/cooled water. That is enough to make me stay away.
posted by neblina_matinal at 2:23 AM on October 17, 2008
Yeah, I don't think there's much you can do other than stop breathing. Cancer doesn't happen because of environmental reasons alone, sometimes (most times?) it happens because... it just does. People have been dying of cancer for many thousands of years, not just since the toaster was invented*.
So I'd say, like bjrn, just stay away from the more obvious things and don't stress it. If you start worrying you might get cancer because of everything and anything, life won't be much fun anyway.
* First time I've heard burnt toast causes cancer. Never heard about the water either. All I can say: burnt toast tastes bad, and so does repeatedly heated/cooled water. That is enough to make me stay away.
posted by neblina_matinal at 2:23 AM on October 17, 2008
Chemo?
posted by the latin mouse at 2:24 AM on October 17, 2008
posted by the latin mouse at 2:24 AM on October 17, 2008
Anti-carcinogens: tea, coffee, meat, eggs, poultry, tomatoes, soy sauce among other things.
posted by b33j at 2:28 AM on October 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by b33j at 2:28 AM on October 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
Maybe you should stop listening to your mother about what causes cancer. Snopes on the water bottle myth.
posted by Rhomboid at 3:10 AM on October 17, 2008
posted by Rhomboid at 3:10 AM on October 17, 2008
Response by poster: Note: I am not saying any of the assertions above are true. They are just examples of the "X causes cancer" assertions that I hear from day to day.
posted by k7lim at 4:01 AM on October 17, 2008
posted by k7lim at 4:01 AM on October 17, 2008
the_latin_mouse: Some types of chemo can in rare cases cause cancer...
posted by timmow at 4:08 AM on October 17, 2008
posted by timmow at 4:08 AM on October 17, 2008
Chemo?
Chemo is a huge culprit of causing secondary malignancies in young adults/adults who had a childhood malignancy.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 4:39 AM on October 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
Chemo is a huge culprit of causing secondary malignancies in young adults/adults who had a childhood malignancy.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 4:39 AM on October 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
Everything has risk. Even staying in bed with the covers over your head. You choose the activities/food/etc. that has an acceptable level of risk.
posted by winston at 5:24 AM on October 17, 2008
posted by winston at 5:24 AM on October 17, 2008
When I was a kid a teacher told us that there were like 3 or 5 or something substances absolutely known to NOT cause cancer. Pure water was one, as in distilled and not left in the air to absorb carbon. I don't remember the rest. She was quite likely quoting garbage out of a late 80's science book.
posted by TomMelee at 5:35 AM on October 17, 2008
posted by TomMelee at 5:35 AM on October 17, 2008
Mod note: hi, a few jokes removed - if you want to know why I think cancer isn't funny, feel free to MeMail.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:53 AM on October 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:53 AM on October 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
To clarify, k7lim: are you looking for examples of things that don't cause cancer, or things that don't gather 'x causes cancer' assertions?
posted by box at 6:01 AM on October 17, 2008
posted by box at 6:01 AM on October 17, 2008
Love.
posted by watercarrier at 6:22 AM on October 17, 2008
posted by watercarrier at 6:22 AM on October 17, 2008
Love.
Maybe the platonic type. With cervical cancer linked to HPV exposure and HPV being rampant the non-platonic type of Love carries a substantial cancer risk for half the population. Even with the new HPV vaccine (it only protects against some variants - not all).
posted by srboisvert at 6:30 AM on October 17, 2008 [2 favorites]
Maybe the platonic type. With cervical cancer linked to HPV exposure and HPV being rampant the non-platonic type of Love carries a substantial cancer risk for half the population. Even with the new HPV vaccine (it only protects against some variants - not all).
posted by srboisvert at 6:30 AM on October 17, 2008 [2 favorites]
If you are talking zero risk then you'd have to live down a mine shaft as cosmic radiation causes cancer (it's a obviously a low risk factor but it's there)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 6:38 AM on October 17, 2008
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 6:38 AM on October 17, 2008
See, I want to say broccoli, but then -- how can I prove nobody has ever said broccoli causes cancer? However, the first pages of google results are all about how broccoli cures cancer.
posted by salvia at 7:53 AM on October 17, 2008
posted by salvia at 7:53 AM on October 17, 2008
Oh, nope, broccoli causes cancer.
Acetaldehyde, a human carcinogen, is the product of most hydrocarbon oxidations and is a normal intermediate in the respiration of most higher plants and is a natural component of apples, broccoli, coffee, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, mushrooms, onions, oranges, peaches, pears, pineapples, raspberries, and strawberries.posted by salvia at 7:55 AM on October 17, 2008
There's a difference between a substance increasing one's risk of developing certain cancers, and a substance "causing cancer."
There is not an answer to your question. They don't really keep a list of the substances that 100% don't cause cancer. Most substances don't "cause cancer."
An activity that is generally safe is to consume in moderation.
The best things to do are things that make sense for preventing a slew of health problems, don't smoke, drink in moderation (like 1 drink per day or less for women, 2 for men), eat a balanced diet, exercise (people forget this one a lot), etc.
Some cancers, unfortunately, can't be prevented, because they aren't caused by environmental factors. Getting regular check-ups and the screenings that are recommended for your age group are activities that aren't carcinogenic.
And before anyone starts claiming that the radiation from mammography is carcinogenic, know that the amount of rads from a mammogram are very low. The amount of exposure from a mammogram is comparable to one's exposure from a US transcontinental airline flight.
posted by fructose at 8:12 AM on October 17, 2008
There is not an answer to your question. They don't really keep a list of the substances that 100% don't cause cancer. Most substances don't "cause cancer."
An activity that is generally safe is to consume in moderation.
The best things to do are things that make sense for preventing a slew of health problems, don't smoke, drink in moderation (like 1 drink per day or less for women, 2 for men), eat a balanced diet, exercise (people forget this one a lot), etc.
Some cancers, unfortunately, can't be prevented, because they aren't caused by environmental factors. Getting regular check-ups and the screenings that are recommended for your age group are activities that aren't carcinogenic.
And before anyone starts claiming that the radiation from mammography is carcinogenic, know that the amount of rads from a mammogram are very low. The amount of exposure from a mammogram is comparable to one's exposure from a US transcontinental airline flight.
posted by fructose at 8:12 AM on October 17, 2008
On the burnt toast thing, there is evidence that the "char" on just about anything isn't particularly good for you. Be that on burnt toast, or a grilled piece of meat. (yet another reason to eat it rare!)
Seriously though, here are some resources for you. (caveat: I'm somewhat connected to the SCCA - but not directly)
Nutrition guide for cancer prevention
Healthy living choices that prevent cancer
And here is a book about preventing cancer through nutrition: Amazon link.
posted by Craig at 8:42 AM on October 17, 2008
Seriously though, here are some resources for you. (caveat: I'm somewhat connected to the SCCA - but not directly)
Nutrition guide for cancer prevention
Healthy living choices that prevent cancer
And here is a book about preventing cancer through nutrition: Amazon link.
posted by Craig at 8:42 AM on October 17, 2008
Since the 1960's, the American Cancer Society has run very large-scale mortality studies called (unsurprisingly) the Cancer Prevention Studies. There's been two of them so far. CPS-III is currently being prepared, but it will be years before there's any results.
These are some of the most important studies in cancer research and, while they won't tell you what substances are guaranteed not to cause cancer, the results (actually the analyses of the data by scientists) give a reasonable idea of what the major risk factors are and also prompt suggest further avenues of research, which provide more insight.
Cancer isn't a simple thing - it's not just a matter of specific substances. Some substances will have both cancer-causing and cancer-preventing effects. Some substances are only carcinogenic in combination with other substances, or at particular levels. Some carcinogens have other health benefits that will decrease mortality over the long term - avoiding the sun because over-exposure is implicated in skin cancer would be a really bad idea. The small cancer risk is offset by the production of vitamin D and the other health benefits.
So there really isn't any answer to your question. In general the research is only good enough to make fairly broad recommendations regarding diet and behaviour (don't smoke, eat vegetables, don't stand in direct sunlight for hours on a regular basis, etc.) Stories about specific substances being horribly unsafe are usually sensationalist. As others have suggested, it's better to think of cancer risks (and risks in general) as a sliding scale: Tobacco: Bad. Toast: Not nearly bad enough to worry about. Sunlight: Mostly a good thing.
It's also worth noting that worrying about this stuff too much will also present a mortality risk. Avoid obviously bad stuff, ignore most of the news reports and relax. Which, thinking about it, is probably one behaviour that isn't carcinogenic at all.
posted by xchmp at 9:07 AM on October 17, 2008
These are some of the most important studies in cancer research and, while they won't tell you what substances are guaranteed not to cause cancer, the results (actually the analyses of the data by scientists) give a reasonable idea of what the major risk factors are and also prompt suggest further avenues of research, which provide more insight.
Cancer isn't a simple thing - it's not just a matter of specific substances. Some substances will have both cancer-causing and cancer-preventing effects. Some substances are only carcinogenic in combination with other substances, or at particular levels. Some carcinogens have other health benefits that will decrease mortality over the long term - avoiding the sun because over-exposure is implicated in skin cancer would be a really bad idea. The small cancer risk is offset by the production of vitamin D and the other health benefits.
So there really isn't any answer to your question. In general the research is only good enough to make fairly broad recommendations regarding diet and behaviour (don't smoke, eat vegetables, don't stand in direct sunlight for hours on a regular basis, etc.) Stories about specific substances being horribly unsafe are usually sensationalist. As others have suggested, it's better to think of cancer risks (and risks in general) as a sliding scale: Tobacco: Bad. Toast: Not nearly bad enough to worry about. Sunlight: Mostly a good thing.
It's also worth noting that worrying about this stuff too much will also present a mortality risk. Avoid obviously bad stuff, ignore most of the news reports and relax. Which, thinking about it, is probably one behaviour that isn't carcinogenic at all.
posted by xchmp at 9:07 AM on October 17, 2008
Guaranteed? In the strictest sense, this question is unanswerable because the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. We can name things that have never (to date) been shown to cause/be risk factors for cancer, but that's not the same as "doesn't cause cancer."
posted by needs more cowbell at 11:18 AM on October 17, 2008
posted by needs more cowbell at 11:18 AM on October 17, 2008
I took a toxicology class in grad school where we spent an entire quarter on cancer and really, it's not that everything causes cancer but that cancer is most likely triggered by organic compounds found in incomplete combustion, but those organic compounds are found in quite a lot of things (most anything you eat).
posted by mathowie at 11:20 AM on October 17, 2008
posted by mathowie at 11:20 AM on October 17, 2008
Mod note: your death joke has been deleted six times already, please do not make it again, it is not so funny, actually.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:03 PM on October 17, 2008
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:03 PM on October 17, 2008
Life causes cancer as cancer is basically cells becoming immortal and "selfish" that shouldn't and getting in the way of the functioning of the cells that are committed to keeping the whole body alive. So because eventually all cells (except most brain cells) need to be replaced, there is always a chance that one of them will go rogue and lead to cancer.
The more researchers study this, the more they find parallels between cancers and fetal development.
This is also why some things aimed at increasing longevity-- such as trying to restore the ends of telomeres on cells that prevent them getting "old" might also have the effect of increasing cancer risk.
One thing that doesn't seem to cause cancer is dietary restriction. This increases longevity in every species so far tested but appears to make life *feel* much longer for humans trying to cut calories by 40%, which is basically what seems to be required to have an effect. Personally, I'm waiting for the pill to replicate this without the constant starving feeling.
posted by Maias at 7:22 PM on October 17, 2008
The more researchers study this, the more they find parallels between cancers and fetal development.
This is also why some things aimed at increasing longevity-- such as trying to restore the ends of telomeres on cells that prevent them getting "old" might also have the effect of increasing cancer risk.
One thing that doesn't seem to cause cancer is dietary restriction. This increases longevity in every species so far tested but appears to make life *feel* much longer for humans trying to cut calories by 40%, which is basically what seems to be required to have an effect. Personally, I'm waiting for the pill to replicate this without the constant starving feeling.
posted by Maias at 7:22 PM on October 17, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
I would guess the bread in itself, in moderation would be okay, it's usually the "burnt" part that is said to cause cancer. As for the water it's the stuff being released from the plastic after getting too hot, so you can drink water just fine (the purer the better, natch). And so on, you can eat and drink lots of things, just stay away from things with enormous amounts of pesticides, mold, bits of plastic/metal/etc in it.
posted by bjrn at 2:07 AM on October 17, 2008 [1 favorite]