Circumcision, cervical cancer

One of the arguments advanced to promote circumcision of males has been the supposed lower rate of cervical cancer in the wives of circumcised men. If this difference does indeed exist (many researchers feel it does not) the lower rate of cancer may be due to factors other than circumcision according to an Israeli study. Drs. A. Schachter and E. Abraham of the Beilinson Medical Center report that the traditional conservative life-style may be responsible for the difference. A study of 30,000 women revealed that in women aged 20 to 29 the cancer rate was approximately the same as that observed in the United States. (Lancet 2:1150, 1984) Copyright 1984 Phylis Austin

Smoking during pregnancy, childhood cancer

Cancer risk for children of mothers who smoke during pregnancy may be 50 percent higher than for children of nonsmoking mothers. Risk for Wilms tumor, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and acute lymphocytic leukemia is approximately double in these children. (The Lancet 1:1350-1352, June 14, 1986) Copyright 1986 Phylis Austin

Vegetarian diet and colon cancer risk

A study done by a group of various research institutes in the United States has revealed that Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) vegetarians have a lower rate of growth of epithelial cells in the mucosa of the colon. As cell production increases the risk of colon cancer increases. This may partially explain the lower incidence of colon cancer observed in SDA vegetarians. (Cancer Letters 26:139-144, 1985)
Copyright 1985 Phylis Austin

Sugar and colon polyps

High sugar intake increases the incidence of colorectal polyps. (European Journal of Cancer (Suppl 1)30A, 1994) Copyright 1994 Phylis Austin

Smoking and cervical cancer

Dr. E. R. Greenberg of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center reports that heavy smokers have at least a two-fold increase in the risk of cervical cancer. (British Journal of Cancer 51:139-41, 1985) Copyright 1985 Phylis Austin

Smoking, phenacetin, cancer of the ureter, cancer of renal pelvis

Smoking increases the risk of cancer of the ureter, and pain medications containing phenacetin increase the risk of cancer of the renal pelvis, according to a study published in the Journal of Urology. (Journal of Urology 130(1)28-30, 1983) Copyright 1985 Phylis Austin

Pesticide use and melanoma

Residential pesticide use may increase the risk of cutaneous melanoma. Earlier studies have shown an association between occupational pesticide exposure, but this study showed a two and one-half times increased risk of melanoma in subjects exposed to indoor pesticide use four or more times a year over a ten-year period.

Other studies have suggested that household pesticide use increases the risk of several pediatric tumors including brain, leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
(European Journal of Cancer 43:1066-1075, 2007)
Copyright 2007 Phylis A Austin

Father’s occupation and childhood nervous system tumors

Children whose fathers were employed in fields that exposed them to low frequency electromagnetic fields (electronics and electrical fields) are at greater risk of developing a tumor of the nervous system. (International Journal of Epidemiology 18:756-762, 1989)

Copyright 1989 Phylis Austin

Obesity and postmenopausal breast cancer

Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Upper body weight accumulation tends to be particularly hazardous. (International Journal of Epidemiology 28:1026-1031, 1999)

Copyright 1999 Phylis A Austin

Exercise and lung cancer

Six to eight hours of moderate exercise per week significantly reduces the risk of lung cancer in middle-aged men, according to a report from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. (International Journal of Epidemiology 28:620-625, 1999)

Copyright 1999 Phylis A Austin