Lifestyle gets blame for 70% to 90% of all cancers

[Roland99]

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/your-lifestyle-is-to-blame-for-70---90-of-cancers-2015-12-17?link=MW_home_latest_news

Do most people who get cancer simply have bad luck? Or is cancer something they might be able to prevent? A new study suggests the latter.

The study, whose results were recently published in Nature, revealed that it is mostly environmental and external factors like smoking, drinking, diet, getting too much sun and exposure to toxic chemicals that cause cancer, rather than intrinsic factors like random cell mutations.

Intrinsic factors accounted for just 10% to 30% of people’s lifetime risk of getting cancer, while extrinsic risks accounted for 70% to 90% for most common cancer types, the study showed. “Cancer risk is heavily influenced by extrinsic factors,” the study researchers, who work at Stony Brook University in New York, concluded.

link to study:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v529/n7584/full/nature16166.html

[alarimer]

1. We get cancer because nothing else kills us first.

It's just part of the peril of being in a modern society that has solved (for the most part) many of the things that kill you earlier.

But it is impossible to mitigate all risk. I refuse to live inside, away from sunlight and I won't give up the things I like to eat and drink. And I don't think we as a society should give up oral contraceptives. The benefits far, far outweigh whatever minimalrisks they pose. I think this table is extremely misleading. Not all of those cancers are equal in prevalence.

[EL34x4]

4. Personally, I think cancer gets a bad rap.

We all gotta die someday, right? At least cancer lets you know he's coming, gives you a chance to get your affairs in order and maybe knock a couple of items off the bucket list. I'll bet the guy who had a massive coronary on his sofa or got hit by a bus wishes he could've tied up a few loose ends.

And before anyone blasts me, yes, I watched cancer take my dad at age 68. Before he passed he spent some quality time with his family, went on a couple of enjoyable vacations, and made sure my mom was as prepared as could possibly be as far as finances, pensions, business affairs, etc. in his absence. Additionally, we were all able to prepare ourselves for dad's impending death. In this respect, cancer is actually merciful.

This being said, cancer striking young people and children in particular is heartbreaking.

[Javaman]

10. 7 people in my family who have had cancer or cancer related issues.

so yes, I will blast you.

I will give you a little list of all the people I know who dies of it.

dad

my mom

both my sisters.

3 of my uncles

my 3 aunts

my brother who is a higher candidate because he smoked. I didn't.

not all cancer "let's you know it's coming"

I had two friends die of cancer within days of finding out they had bone cancer.

Cancer totally sucks.

I've seen my family members waste away before my eyes.

You had your dad, you had time. I. DID. NOT.

My dad was diagnosed in January and was dead by July.

I hated watching my mom go through chemo. the early morning vomiting sessions. watching her so wiped out to do anything other than sit still.

Shall I go on? or shall I regale you with my sisters Chemo sessions?

CANCER SUCKS.

[Orrex]

13. That's a pretty fucking ignorant post.

[FLPanhandle]

2. In other words, no sex, no good food, don't go outside, don't get overweight and you'll be fine

To avoid death, don't have a life.

[hobbit709]

3. I had quite a few friends die from cancers that didn't fit those lifestyles.

As the bumper sticker says "Eat right, Stay fit, Die anyhow"

[Bonhomme Richard]

5. Everyone dies....not everyone lives. n/t

[bbgrunt]

6. this is just a sad attempt to blame everything on victims.

Air pollution is not a lifestyle choice.

[olddots]

7. I love graphs and charts

[Iggo]

8. Obesity is a lifestyle?

I did not know.

[former9thward]

11. What did you think it was?

[meow2u3]

9. Not only are victims being blamed for cancer

The powers that be are also showing that authoritarian bent on telling people how to live. Plus, the real causes of cancer--industrial pollution, car exhaust, etc.--are being let off the hook by implying people brought cancer upon themselves.

[former9thward]

12. Industrial pollution and exhaust are probably 1%

of what it used to be. Talk to any old timer in cities and they will tell you how the air used to look. So I believe the chart is largely correct. I do agree with you about the authoritarianism. I don't care what people eat, drink,smoke or do.

[jcboon]

14. Yes

[GreatGazoo]

15. +1 Most of us don't get a choice on how much pollution or how many environmental

carcinogens we are exposed to.