Dear Alec,Â
I have tried posting the bottom of Rob Opie’s article using Disqus, but failed a few times. I have some very, very serious concerns about the article, which falls way short of the standards on your otherwise excellent website. I am surprised that you associate yourself with this quality of journalism. Herewith my attempted post, which you may post if you wish.
Kind regards
Dr James Butler*
This article is of a very poor scientific quality and the opinions expressed are contradicted by scientific evidence. There are many issues, but the most important are that;
1. Cancer is not 1 disease (lung cancer, leukaemia, skin cancer, cervical cancer etc are very different conditions). This article treats them as one condition.
2. The causes for cancer vary. More than 90% of lung cancers are caused by smoking, skin cancer is largely related to sun exposure, cervical cancer is caused by herpes viruses etc. To state that smoking does not cause (lung) cancer, is not only dangerous, but may may land the author in serious legal trouble.
3. Scientists have recently attempted to model the proportion of cancers related to lifestyle and the results have been widely reported in the lay press. It is estimated that about 4 out of every 10 types of cancer may be avoided by lifestyle changes. The following is one of the many articles that appeared on the subject in highly reputable publications (see also BBC, NYT, Wall Street Journal etc)Â http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
4. The genetic basis for some forms of cancers has been well established. Simply read the Nobel Prize winner James Watson’s book on DNA.
5. Some cancers are cured in a high percentage of cases (such as testicular cancer, which Armstrong had, and some forms of lymphoma).
6. Some cancers, such as cervical cancer, can be prevented with immunisations.
This article is therefore not only misleading, but dangerous to members of the public, patients and the author. Some of the statements are analogous to suggesting that there is no scientific evidence for the world being round and that a virus does not cause HIV/ AIDS.
Perhaps the author should lie in the sun for 2 hours each day at midday and smoke excessively?!
*Medical specialist Dr James Butler is a BizNews community member.
