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42 Comments
- imikedaman, on 07/13/2009, -0/+17Not being the main cause is not the same thing as being an irrelevant cause. This is probably yet another one of those articles where the researchers in question are shaking their heads at how inaccurately it portrays their findings.
- jaytek13, on 07/13/2009, -1/+11So we're switching to scaring people who have moles instead?
I'm "moley", I guess its a death sentence. Just kill me now. - rathka, on 07/13/2009, -0/+9Cancer is very complicated. Hardly any two cancers are alike. Cells have an amazing number of proteins in them doing different functions, many related to advancing or preventing the cell cycle (cell division) while others deal with apoptosis (cell death) and cell growth. The thing with cancer is that many different combination of proteins mutated in these sections can result in uncontrolled cell growth (or neutralization of cell growth inhibitors), and hence cancer. Though some genes (such as p53) show up in many cancers, it's still hard to find an all purpose cure. And furthermore, cancers in different parts of the body also have their own differences. And to make things even worse, things like viruses and genetics have recently been shown to help instigate cancer in their own ways too.
This is why I don't think we will have a cure for cancer for many, many years to come; not a huge single cure (if that's even possible). Further, there is not one single agent that causes cancer. Many things can help cause mutations which eventually lead to cancer, which is why it's so hard to avoid. Your cells have mutations all the time, and build ups of them could easily lead to cancer. Even if we did find a way to stop aging, cancer would still probably kill us all.
Eh, I guess kind of off topic but hopefully still relevant. - prrp, on 07/13/2009, -0/+8Just going by what we were taught in med school...Malignant Melanoma is NOT much of an increased risk from just plain lifetime sun exposure... instead, it's prevalence is greatly increased from multiple (3+) severe childhood sunburns, which the article didn't mention. A lot of the risk factors have to do with your skin type, too. Blacks are lucky as far as melanoma goes! For the other two common skin cancers, Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas, both of those are mostly due to lifetime (cumulative) sun exposure.
So... while *cumulative* sun exposure may be "overstated" for malignant melanoma, it isn't overstated for Squamous and Basals..
Oh, and just FYI.. If you're moley, it is a great idea to take a detailed picture of yourself every year with your shirt off so you can keep track of your moles. Anything asymmetric, with irregular borders, changes in color, and changes in size (getting bigger), you should get it checked out. - Janv1er, on 07/13/2009, -0/+5*HEADSHOT*
- squeevey, on 07/13/2009, -0/+4Regardless if it is the sun, or if it's the number of moles, the best way to prevent cancer or to a catch it early is to learn -
THE ABC's of Skin Cancer: http://caminomedical.org/dermatology/abcs.html
I learned this in 7th grade. It came in pretty handy when I got skin cancer my Junior year of university. I had a malignant melanoma (that's the bad one that could spread), but I caught it early and it didn't get a chance to spread.
Now i have a wicked awesome scar :) - institoris, on 07/13/2009, -0/+3I'm a pretty average digger. Maybe two hours of sunshine/week. I have stage III melanoma. Average amount of moles, I guess. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
- linkesslover, on 07/13/2009, -0/+3Yes this is a horrible article.
- rathka, on 07/13/2009, -0/+3Interesting point, though I would more say that rapid mutations are more from the structure of DNA than cancerous cells. Theoretically, if it was thing, DNA would be perfect in storing information and having no mutations. However, evolutionarily, this would be a disadvantage since no genetic diversity/evolution/adaptation would occur. Hence why DNA is very capable of evolving AND repairing, while at the same time keeping all the information necessary to continue life. So yea, without mutations, we wouldn't even exist; but at the same time, they're probably be the ultimate reason we will never achieve immortality.
And I definitely agree, everything causes cancer haha. Moderation is definitely the best way to have the longest life. - richdiggins, on 07/13/2009, -0/+2sunshine == vitamin D == less cancer
- TruthKid, on 07/13/2009, -0/+2And also submit those photos to molefetish.com
But seriously, what you say makes sense, and of course by sense I mean it sounds like it would be an episode of House which is what I base all my medical knowledge on. - appleofdischord, on 07/13/2009, -0/+2http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comici ...
- BasalCellBossk, on 07/13/2009, -0/+2“The research does not in any way contradict the bulk of scientific evidence, which shows that most skin cancers are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet [UV] rays.”
These kinds of articles give people the wrong impression. You should really avoid too much sun and at all costs avoid getting burned. This is not a new excuse to go out and get a suntan, nothing has changed. - Aroundtown27, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1I think that this article could give some people the wrong idea. Lots of people will see "The sun doesn't give you skin cancer!" and will go out and burn the ***** out of themselves and increase their risks for getting skin cancer. Generally, I don't think people are shying away from being in the sun (with exception of maybe digg users) but instead they are taking more precautions which isn't really a bad thing.
Also sun burns suck anyway. - Flashtone, on 07/13/2009, -3/+4Cancer sucks.
- logir, on 07/14/2009, -0/+1I disagree. I think it got across these points reasonably well:
1) The most common cause of *death* by skin cancer is from being genetically predisposed to it and "moley".
2) The most common cause of skin cancer, whether fatal or not, is still too much sunshine and sunburns.
3) So, don't worry *quite* as much about the sun as people have been saying, but keep an eye on those moles - even here in Iceland*.
4) Repeat the above a couple of times to fill your column inches.
Unfortunately, people still won't understand the distinction between 1 and 2, because people are too lazy to think. They're not even stupid - that would be a fair excuse, just lazy.
*Having said that, I got sunburns on Snæfellsjökull last week, so living in the sub-arctic is no guarantee. - squeevey, on 07/13/2009, -1/+2"cancer" is rogue cells and many forms of it will probably kill us. However, think of the evolutionary benefit it does posses, RAPID mutations. The rapid growth and "mutation" of cancer may very well be the key to adapting to quick environmental changes. Pros and Cons.
I agree with you, everything causes cancer or will kill us. Best advice...USE IN MODERATION...that goes for all things :) - SiberianKhatru, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1So if sunshine is not the main cause of skin cancer and being Moley is, then why is there much more skin cancer in Australia and California where theres lots of sun than Glasgow where there are lots of fair skinned moley people but little sun?
- inactive, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1u should watch ur sun exposure simply because it will give you leather skin. and always use an aftershave with little to no alcohol, because alcohol dries the skin, and makes you look older.
- insanebrain, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1"new guy"
- TruthKid, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1terrorists?
- logir, on 07/14/2009, -0/+1Outlier!
I'm now going to google "stage III melanoma" to see just how horrible I'm being. - digggggggggg, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1Does this mean those people who are deathly afraid of sun should just give it a break?
- logir, on 07/14/2009, -0/+1Keep an eye on your moles. Have a look every few weeks. Talk to a doctor about having any scary ones removed. That's what I should be doing too... :^)=
- JacksonK88, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1It doesn't hurt to protect yourself in the sun as it is also a proven cause of skin cancer.
- phphreak, on 07/13/2009, -1/+2This scare tactic is part and parcel what climate change hysteria is all about.
- Nikare, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1I heard that practically all plants and animals protect themselves from the sun using vitamins E and C.....Also studies show that carotenoids (natural pigments) protect us from sun radiation by scavenging free radicals........So eating foods rich in carotenoid like tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, zucchini and carrots are very efficient in sun protection.
- topgigmedia, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1so... the number of moles on a person is the new skin cancer risk marker. isn't the sun a major cause of moles?
- lelebelle, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1In a few years, they'll have a different "most important factor" in determining your risk for skin cancer. I'll wait until it gets interesting. "You can now stop looking at your moles. Xenu now pinpointed as most most important factor in the risk of getting melanoma."
- chriscalifornia, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1My moles itch sometimes, I just scratch them till they bleed. That'll teach the bastards...
- squeevey, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1I agree with you that DNA would cause rapid mutation, I think cancer may be a side effect of that. Like over rapidization (if that's a word). The over-rapidization of a cell results in an anomalous cell, which has the ability to reproduce, and isn't readily identified as "infectious" and isn't cleaned out or destroyed by the system. I don't know enough of the research that is going on in the area, but just my idea of amorphous systems says that there is always a structure, and it seems that it has to be tied to our DNA somehow :)
- castelfranco, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1Who wrote this? Hawaiian Tropic? Seriously, though... I've read everything above 30 is a joke. So don't forget to protect yourself...
- faskippy, on 07/14/2009, -0/+1Thanks. My husband has had 2 different kinds of skin cancer, 7 times now. Squamous and Basal, I believe. Mohs (sp) surgery, etc. His light skin worries me so much. Regular trips to derm. are so important. Yes they take pics. I'm always on the lookout also. I've been wondering if the Photo Light Facial is a good shot at removing some of that damaged skin that always causes trouble. I would have him get it on his face, back of neck, and forearms. Any idea? My son is starting Med School in the Spring, maybe he can keep us updated also.
- inactive, on 07/13/2009, -0/+1Less melanin + excess sunshine = more cancer...
The same rule cannot apply to all! - mrpunman, on 07/13/2009, -2/+2Vacuum sucks
- rss22, on 07/13/2009, -0/+0Location, location, location.
- inactive, on 07/13/2009, -1/+1yeah, stupid propaganda media telling people sun is dangerous. We NEED the sun just as plants need the sun. no sun = Cancer = death. don't use sun screen, use natural types of sun screen such as aloe vera.
- J0nLightn1ng, on 07/13/2009, -0/+0Like all cancers, there are a multitude of factors that contribute to the formation of Melanoma, including sun exposure. What articles like this fail to do, however, is put the the risk into perspective.
A great tool from the National Cancer Institute shows that characteristics such as age, frequency of moles, or previous sun damage do indeed affect our risk of developing Melanoma. But, even if you have a characteristic that doubles your risk of Melanoma (such as your skin complexion), you still might be surprised to find that your five-year risk of Melanoma is rather low:
http://www.cancer.gov/melanomarisktool/
Also, considering the younger age of most of us Diggers, our chances of dying from Melanoma are completely minuscule in comparison to getting killed from guns or cars:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_causes_of_dea ...
BOTTOM LINE: Know the risks, do your research, and wear your seatbelt - blumarlin1, on 07/30/2009, -0/+0cancer is so ausch
- DarkShadow791, on 07/13/2009, -2/+1FTA:
"Scientists... claim the number of moles on your skin is the most important factor in the risk of getting melanoma." - inactive, on 07/13/2009, -5/+2depends on the person, the frequency and solar flares.
- ghatid, on 07/13/2009, -12/+8Scientists' warnings are scaring people unnecessarily?!?! No way....
/s
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