finally, some sense

    Is this real? Some news articles in the beginning of 2015 concerning the causes of cancer may be showing a glimmer of sense. I recently saw on the news, and also read on the Guardian website that “most types of cancer are down to bad luck rather than lifestyle or genes” Well hallelujah, a journalist finally said something sensible rather than vigorously researching a definitive cause and exploiting some small piece of evidence into a direct correlation. The Daily Mail for example over the years have come up with a laughable amount of trivial things that can “cause cancer” from biscuits, cereal and being pregnant to being left handed and giving blowjobs. Yes, really. If you don’t believe me and have a few minutes to spare, check out this link, there are so many more.           http://www.anorak.co.uk/288298/scare-stories/the-daily-mails-list-of-things-that-give-you-cancer-from-a-to-z.html/

    Don’t get me wrong, I fully understand that an unhealthy lifestyle WILL have an effect on our health and well being, but it is not the sole cause of cancer. The article quite rightly read that “random mutations that occur in DNA when cells divide are largely responsible for two thirds of adult cancers”, in other words, unfortunate, but completely random formations of cancerous tissues. It follows to say that the remaining third are a result of environmental factors and inherited genes, also factors that can’t really be helped.

  The point in this blog post really is just to express my happiness for a genuine piece of news that recognises that cancer really is down to awful and horrible luck. While unhealthy habits like overeating and smoking certainly do not help and will essentially speed up the process, it acknowledges a combination of factors. Factors which are largely not the fault of the individual. This theory has already been applied to mental health illness, so why only just to this?!

   I write this for the few people that may be affected by all the bias in the news over the last decade or so. Telling of how “we can avoid cancer” and how to eat, behave and live our lives. I know from my own experience when I was younger, my mum was diagnosed with a kidney cancer. Something I am almost sure did not come about because of her choice of lifestyle but rather these “bad luck” genes. Even after a full recovery however, I have noticed over the years she has been affected by the mass media that is plastered all over papers and media platforms that x or y can be the cause. There is no reason to be affected by it, and we shouldn't have to be.

    By all means, please live a healthy lifestyle, not too much fat and try not to smoke. But also, live your life through rose tinted glasses, there is no need to stress! (I’m sure The Daily Mail says that causes cancer too ha ha)

For the full article, read here - http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jan/01/two-thirds-cancer-cases-caused-bad-luck-lifestyle-genes

Until next time

xxxx