Cancers - a sense of proportion

[Doc Alan]

World Health Organization ( WHO ) has now classed processed meat as a " definite cause " , and red meat a " probable cause " , of cancer. Processed meat means it’s been changed - through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking or other processes - to enhance flavour or improve preservation. It includes hot dogs, ham, sausages and corned beef. Red meat is unprocessed mammalian muscle meat such as beef, veal, pork and lamb. The type of cancer especially at increased risk is that of large bowel - one of the commonest cancers in many countries, including UK and Philippines.



WHO should have made more clear that while components ( chemicals ) of processed meat CAN cause cancer, the evidence being as strong as that for smoking, alcohol, asbestos and radioactive materials like plutonium ; the RISK is not as high . WHO is less confident about the risk of red meat, even when cooked at high temperatures ( producing more chemicals which may cause cancer ).



There’s an analogy between cancer-causing agents and accidents caused by cars or banana skins - the latter are both " definite " causes of accidents, but the risks are different. Most ( 85% ) lung cancers and about a fifth of ALL cancers are caused by smoking ; at most a fifth of bowel cancers and 3% of all cancers are thought to be caused by processed or red meat.



Processed and red meats do have nutritional value, in addition to being enjoyable to eat - vegetarian diets and diets with poultry and fish may have reduced risk of bowel cancer and other effects on health.



The good fortune of living longer brings with it an increasing risk - to about 1 in 2 - of cancer ; at least a third are preventable ; and treatments keep improving, helped by earlier diagnosis wherever possible.



Bowel cancer in particular has a good chance of cure if diagnosed early. Screening - either by sampling stools for traces of blood and/or examining the bowel by a thin flexible " scope " ( camera ) - is well developed in the UK ( less so in the Philippines ) for men and women in the age groups most at risk ( 9/10 are over 60 ). Other risk factors include being overweight, inactive, excess alcohol and smoking ; in some cases there is a family history ; and others - it has to be said - are down to bad luck ( chance mutations of cells lining the bowel ).


The theme of this thread is " a sense of proportion ". Despite the perhaps misquoted and misunderstood WHO findings, most informed medical opinion says it’s OK to consume processed and red meat in moderation and as part of a balanced diet. In fact " most things in moderation " is the usual conclusion at the end of most reports on food and health !



http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk....-need-to-know/

[Rosie1958]

World Health Organization ( WHO ) has now classed processed meat as a " definite cause " , and red meat a " probable cause " , of cancer. Processed meat means it’s been changed - through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking or other processes - to enhance flavour or improve preservation. It includes hot dogs, ham, sausages and corned beef. Red meat is unprocessed mammalian muscle meat such as beef, veal, pork and lamb. The type of cancer especially at increased risk is that of large bowel - one of the commonest cancers in many countries, including UK and Philippines.



WHO should have made more clear that while components ( chemicals ) of processed meat CAN cause cancer, the evidence being as strong as that for smoking, alcohol, asbestos and radioactive materials like plutonium ; the RISK is not as high . WHO is less confident about the risk of red meat, even when cooked at high temperatures ( producing more chemicals which may cause cancer ).



.........

The theme of this thread is " a sense of proportion ". Despite the perhaps misquoted and misunderstood WHO findings, most informed medical opinion says it’s OK to consume processed and red meat in moderation and as part of a balanced diet. In fact " most things in moderation " is the usual conclusion at the end of most reports on food and health !


http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk....-need-to-know/

Thanks for the clarification Doc Alan and the very interesting information you've shared