You cant believe everything you read. Nowhere is this more true than with information on the Internet. For example, a number of wild rumors associated with various types of cancer have made the rounds on the Internet.
One rumor claimed that common antiperspirants, used mostly by women, cause breast cancer. Circulated via e-mail, the rumor has been around for months, possibly years. It claims that antiperspirants are the leading cause of breast cancer and that antiperspirants prevent the body from purging toxins that can then deposit in the lymph nodes, where they can produce cancer-causing mutations.
Most experts in breast cancer research say there is nothing to this rumor. There are no epidemiologic studies to support the idea that antiperspirant use is a risk factor. Additionally, the lymphatic system does clear some toxins, but the liver and kidneys play a more crucial role in purging substances from the body. More substances leave the body through urination than through perspiration.
"Theres no proof to my knowledge that antiperspirants cause breast cancer," said Jeff Abrams, M.D., of the National Cancer Institutes Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, adding that "these rumors . . . have the potential to do harm."
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Holding for an Answer
Another health concern showing up in e-mail inboxes is a warning that cellular phones cause brain cancer. According to a recent Gallup poll, almost half of all Americans own a cellular phone, and there is a growing concern that all that talking could pose a serious health risk.
Unlike the antiperspirant rumor, which major health establishments actively debunk, the jury is still out on whether talking on a cellular phone can be hazardous to health. As a result of conflicting reports and overall lack of information, the FDA announced in June that it would collaborate with the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association to research mobile phone safety. At issue is whether radio frequency (RF) emissions from mobile phones have an adverse effect on human beings. According to the FDA and the World Health Organization, there is no evidence to date that proves mobile phone usage poses a health risk; however, there is not enough information currently available to totally rule out the possibility.
"Results from the first large studies are in the process of coming out," said Peter Inskip, Sc.D., of NCIs Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. "By the end of this year or early next year, we should have more information relevant to these concerns." He pointed out that cellular phones have not been widely available for a long period of time, making it too early to assess the long-term risks of cellular phone use.
On Aug. 1, CTIA began requiring mobile phone manufacturers to disclose how much radiation from their cellular equipment could enter a users brain under laboratory conditions. The Federal Communications Commission already requires phones to meet safety standards.
Soy Foods
The health benefits of soy have recently gotten a lot of notice. However, e-mail campaigns have warned that overconsumption of soy can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer. Scientists, however, are quick to dismiss these claims.
"There is no data to suggest that soy increases the risk of breast cancer," said Worta McCaskill-Stevens, M.D., of NCIs Division of Cancer Prevention, who is also the program director for the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene. "A high level of soy food products, which contain isoflavones [plant chemicals], is thought to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Studies have shown high levels of isoflavones among Asian women [in Asia] in which the breast cancer rates are among the lowest in the world."
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Another Internet rumor comes in the form of a personal testimonal from a woman who claims she was not properly diagnosed with ovarian cancer until she received the CA-125 (tumor marker) blood test. After describing the experience, the e-mail goes on to urge women to insist on the test as a part of their annual physical exam. According to the experts, this is yet another case of misinformation transmitted via the Internet.
"CA-125 is neither sufficiently sensitive or specific to be a good screen for ovarian cancer," said Edward Trimble, M.D., head of the surgery section in NCIs Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program. "Among premenopausal women, conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and menstruation can cause CA-125 elevations." According to Trimble, the CA-125 test was approved by the FDA only for monitoring the response to chemotherapy in women with advanced or recurrent ovarian cancer; it was not approved for diagnosis.
Does Everything Cause Cancer?
Shampoo, underwire bras, and NutraSweet have all been identified by e-mail as contributors to cancer. Health experts and health organizations are quick to deny any truth to these rumors.
"Part of the problem is that some rumors hold just enough logic to sound convincing to anyone who is not an expert," said Steverna Fields, who heads NCIs Public Inquiries Office. "Its understandable that the average lay person may not know the difference."
"There continues to be voids in the fund of knowledge about cancer," added McCaskill-Stevens, "such that a little bit of erroneous information can further alienate women who are in the greatest need of facts about cancer."
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