“Fear of chemicals” is Real and Chemicals, Prescription Drugs and Medications that can cause cancer
Recent study (World Cancer Report) published alarming findings, in particular, suggesting that global cancer rates are expected to increase 50 percent by the year 2020. The studies were carried out by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization (WHO) . The study goes on to list eyeopening figures, such as 10 million people developed malignant tumors and 6.2 million died from the disease in the year 200,0 (12%) of the nearly 56 million deaths worldwide from all disease related causes.
Over 22 million people in the world were treated for cancer in 2000, representing an increase of approximately 19 percent in incidence (cases) and 18 percent in mortality since 1990. www.wsws.org/en/articles/2003/04/canc-a26.html
Others studies also indicate alarming statistics that show that at least 50% of all men and women get cancer at some point in their life time. Investigations into cancer causation have revealed, according to the same WHO report mentioned above, that the most important human carcinogens include tobacco, asbestos, aflatoxins and ultraviolet light.
In addition, nearly 20 percent of cancers are associated with chronic infections, the most significant ones being hepatitis B and C viruses (liver cancer), human papilloma viruses (cervival and ano-genital cancers) and Helicobacter pylori (stomach cancer). In developed countries chronic infection causation amounts to only 8 percent of all malignancies, whereas in developing countries up to 25 percent of tumors are associated with chronic infections.
The major factors causing cancer include: 1) smoking; 2) lifestyle habits (stress, bad diet, lack of exercise); 3) genetics (which is not that common that people think); 4) exposure to sun; 5) medical treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, immune system-suppressing drugs and other environmental factors can increase the risk of cancer. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/generalinformationaboutcarcinogens/known-and-probable-human-carcinogens
List of chemicals that cause cancer:
Acording to Fact Sheet by Cancer.gov, many chemicals used in products are either suspect or directly responsible for causing cancer, including: cigarettes/negotine, acrylamide in food, alcohol consumption, antiperspirants or deodorants, asbestos, fluoridated water, formaldehyde, hair dye, and many others.
Recently, an article on Dailymail.com suggested that “U.S. scientists said some people suffer from an irrational fear of chemicals when low doses used in meals pose no risk to human health”.
Amazingly, the article suggests that the people who only eat organic foods and do not microwave their foods suffer from chemophobia or an 'irrational' fear of chemicals - and they are missing out on nutrients found in modern foods. However, one would wonder what are the “nutrients found in modern foods”, anyways?
Whether you call it “chemophobia” or “healthy life style”, the truth is that, the cancer causing chemicals and carcinogens are everywhere, but many people either do not recognize them or can’t avoid them.
The fear of man-made chemicals isn’t just a fantasy and it becomes more real as you begin to discover that there are toxic substances and chemicals in modern (processed) foods that are linked to many diseases like neurological disorders and cancer such as formaldehyde, sodium nitrite, benzene and hormone destructive chemicals (BPA). Click here to find out the lists of top 17 toxic foods, preservatives and additives that are causing cancer.
List of medical treatments that can cause cancer:
According to the American Cancer Society, immune system-suppressing drugs and medical treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy can increase the risk of cancer.
Also, interestingly, the American Cancer Society website mentions that “cancer is caused by changes in a cell’s DNA – its genetic blueprint.” – Doesn’t the word ‘DNA change and carcinogens’ remind you of vaccines and GM foods? Find how 98 million Americans have received polio vaccines contaminated with cancer-causing virus SV40.
Additionally, many people are not aware that FDA doesn’t perform any tests on its own for a safety of a product and completely relies on the results that are provided to them by corporations. However do you believe what a multibillion dollar Frankenfood company says about the safety of their products?
Lists of Prescription Drugs that cause cancer:
According to peoplespharmacy.com, it’s shocking to both physicians and patients to know that dozens of commonly subscribed dugs tested on animals have been linked to cancer. Here are some of these medications:
>> Omeprazole (Prilosec): The popular heartburn medicine known as omeprazole (Prilosec) can cause stomach tumors and abnormal cell growth in laboratory rats.
>> Spironolactone (Aldactazide, Aldactone): Spironolactone is a blood pressure drug prescribed for facial hair growth and hormone imbalances in women has been known to cause cancer.
>> Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Millions of women take HRT for menopause symptoms. The estrogen in this drug can promote uterine as well as breast cancer.
>> Cholesterol-lowering drugs: A decade ago, an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that drugs such as fibrates and the statins tested in animal labs can enhance the growth of cancer cells.
>> Elidel cream and Protopic ointment: Tropical skin treatments have been linked to skin cancer and lymphoma.
>> Vaccines including Polio and hepatitis B: Recently, DCD was caught for removing a page on their website that mentioned how 98 million Americans have received polio vaccines contaminated with cancer-causing virus SV40.
Report on Carcinogens (RoC) about the lists of 246 substances that cause cancer:
Once every two years, the National Institute of Environmental Health science releases the list of cancer causing carcinogens under a report called “Report on Carcinogens” (RoC). According to Eleventh Report on Carcinogens, published in January 31, 2005, there are 246 substances on the list that are known or suspected to cause cancer. Some of these carcinogens are lead, X-radiation, gamma radiation, human papilloma viruses, hepatitis B and C, grilled meats, textile dyes, paints and inks. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/Hepatitis/438
The world’s wealthiest non-profit institution: The American Cancer Society:
According to preventcancer.com, The American Cancer society (ACS) has been very successful to accumulate a great wealth under its ‘charity’ role. According to Cancer Prevention Coalition website “James Bennett, the professor of economics at George Mason University found that in 1988, the ACS held a fund balance of over $400 million with about $69 million of holdings in land, buildings, and equipment. Of that money, the ACS spent only $90 million (26% of its budget) on medical research and programs. The rest of the money was covered for “operating expenses,” including about 60% for generous salaries, pensions, executive benefits, and overhead."
By 1989, the cash reserve of ACS was about $700 million and in 1991, the Americans who believed they were helping to fight cancer, gave an additional $350 million to ACS (6% more than the previous year).
Most of the money came from public donations of an average $3,500 while other big donations came from large corporations like pharmaceutical companies, drug companies, telecommunications, and entertainment industries and chemical companies. http://www.preventcancer.com/losing/acs/wealthiest_links.htm
So, who is in Board of Director for ACS?
You are going to love this one. The multibillionaire corporate executives from pharmaceutical, investment, banking, biotech, and media industries are supposedly helping to fight cancer while accumulating a great wealth for themselves. Here are the lists of some of them:
>> David R. Bethune: The President of of Lederle Laboratories, a multinational pharmaceutical company and a division of American Cyanamid Company.
>> Alan Gevertzen: The board of the world’s number one commercial aircraft maker “Boeing” with net sales of $30 billion in 1992.
>> Irwin Beck: Multimillion Irwin Beck whose father, William Henry Beck, founded America’s largest family-owned retail chain and Beck Stores.
>> Gordon Binder: The CEO of the world’s leading Biotech Company called Amgen with over $1 billion in product sales in 1992. Amgen made most of its money from selling a chemotherapy drug called “Neupogen” that is meant to stimulate the cancer patients production of white blood cells. Thanks to biotech and chemical companies, as the cancer epidemic grew, so did the sales of Amgen’s Neupogen drug.
>> Sumner M. Redstone: The chairman of a broadcasting, telecommunications, entertainment, and cable television corporation known as Viacom International, Inc.
>> Diane Disney Miller: The wife of Ron Miller, former president of Walt Disney (1980-1984) and the daughter of multi-millionaire neo-conservative Walt Disney who died of lung cancer in 1966.
>> George Dessert: The chairman of ACS board was the CEO of CBS news during 1970s to 1980s and he played an important role on the subject of “family values”.
What to do?
Unfortunately, the environment around us is becoming more and more dependent on chemicals that are detrimental to human’s health. You might argue that even the air that we breathe and the water than we drink are contaminated. That might be true, but that doesn’t mean people should go and look for foods that have contaminants and chemicals known to cause cancer.
Support your local farms and buy organic products as much as you could. Your diet is your biggest allay at avoiding cancer and it’s also important to have a good cleaning diet on a regular basis to get rid of accumulation of toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Click here to find more about top 5 recommendations for getting rid of heavy metals like fluoride, lead or mercury (in your body).