Blanket term for a class of diseases in which cells lose the function called apoptosis" and continue to grow uncontrolled. Can also refer to the study of this uncontrolled growth, as well as its invasion and/or destruction of other tissues which is known as metastasis. The term "cancer" covers hundreds of different conditions.
Questions tagged [cancer]
148 questions
107
votes
1 answer
Has the cure to cancer been hidden by pharmaceutical companies?
I've heard a theory that given the widespread incidence of cancer, a cancer cure probably already exists but has been hidden by major pharmaceutical companies to maximise revenue from expensive cancer treatment, since a cure would be one-off but…
Huey
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90
votes
2 answers
Is eating processed meat as bad as smoking for causing cancer?
I recently saw this posted on social media; it caused quite a stir, with over 200 comments from people debating the veracity of the claims.
“It’s funny how people get outraged at parents putting their kids at
risk by defying scientific fact and…
TheJulyPlot
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88
votes
6 answers
Do mobile phones have anything to do with brain cancer?
Is there evidence for a correlation between the use of mobile phones and the occurence of brain cancer? If yes, is there also evidence for causality?
user288
66
votes
1 answer
If smoking causes lung cancer, why has a decline in smoking not led to a decline in lung cancer?
According to the CDC, smoking prevalence among US adults (18+) has decreased quite a bit over the years:
1974: 37.1% of the population
1980: 33.2
1990: 25.5
2000: 23.3
2010: 19.3
According to cancer.gov the rates of new cases of lung cancer in the…
DaleJohnston
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58
votes
3 answers
Does burning your food increase your risk of getting cancer?
About a year ago I heard that burning your food can lead to an increased risk of getting cancer. The explanation was that the burned portion of the food was carcinogenic. The Carbon that would be produced in burning of the food was also involved in…
jon_brockman
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57
votes
1 answer
Do hot peppers kill cancer?
While browsing Health.SE, I came across an answer that makes the following claim:
A 2007 study by Nottingham University2 found that spicy foods can help kill cancer cells. Capsaicin, which is what makes many foods spicy, attacks the mitochondria of…
Mithical
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51
votes
2 answers
Is there reliable evidence that depleted uranium from the 1999 NATO bombing is causing cancer in Serbia?
This year is the 20th anniversary of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia/Serbia. At the moment, Serbian media outlets are focused on claims that depleted uranium in NATO bombs used during the bombardment might be causing an increase in the number of…
kozina-adjacent
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50
votes
5 answers
Does the artificial sweetener aspartame cause cancer?
I've often heard that the artificial sweetener aspartame causes cancer.
Is it true?
anansias
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50
votes
3 answers
Does regularly drinking from a plastic container cause cancer?
I drink water from my plastic cup regularly and a friend commented that it could cause cancer.
He also added that I should not heat food in plastic containers or wrappings in the microwave as that could also cause cancer in the long run. He claimed…
EuropaDust
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45
votes
3 answers
Do 80 to 90 percent of lifelong smokers never develop lung cancer?
Joshua Hawkins of BGR.com has stated that 80 to 90 percent of lifelong smokers never develop lung cancer.
To quote the article:
Scientists may have discovered why lifelong smokers never get lung cancer. That sentence probably seems silly,…
Chris Rogers
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33
votes
1 answer
Do THC or other cannabis compounds cure/slow cancer?
I see this popping up on my Facebook feed quite a lot (to be fair, it's usually the same 3 people): Claims that evidence has shown that marijuana/cannabis/THC/other cannabinoids can have a positive effect in cancer treatment. I wonder what the truth…
Damon
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32
votes
1 answer
Was Eddie Van Halen's tongue cancer caused by metal guitar picks?
Eddie Van Halen was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2000. He attributed the cancer to his habit of holding metal guitar picks, made from brass and copper, in his mouth. He was declared cancer-free in 2002 but then was later diagnosed with throat…
ewanc
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32
votes
1 answer
Can oral sex cause throat cancer?
(somebody had to ask this)
Micheal Douglas, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2010, said in a recent interview with the Guardian:
Asked whether he now regretted his years of smoking and drinking, usually thought to be the cause of the…
matt_black
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32
votes
7 answers
Is cancer a man-made disease?
Not too long ago a story about a study examining mummies for the prevalence of cancer caused a flurry of articles in the media claiming that cancer is a man-made disease. The researchers claim that cancer was very rare in ancient egypt compared to…
Mad Scientist
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29
votes
1 answer
Are cancer recovery rates the same as they were in 1920?
Related: Have any “cures” been invented since the 1950's or so?
I ran across the movie Cut Poison Burn, who's abstract is as follows:
Cut Poison Burn is a controversial, eye opening, and sometimes heartbreaking documentary that puts the business…
Hendy
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