Anticancer??

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koan
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Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 1:00 pm

Anticancer??

Post by koan »

I encounter this word a lot and it makes very little sense to me.

Do they actually know, definitively, what causes cancer? How can something be anticancer when we know so little about it?

It shrinks tumours? Some people believe a tumour is the positive effort that bodies make to protect themselves from the illness by isolating the cells. Does shrinking tumours fight cancer?



I worry about this word because I believe anyone diagnosed with cancer would spend their last cent to find a cure and I want to know what kind of evidence the myriad of products that use the term offer to people who don't have a lot of time to mess around.
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mrsK
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Anticancer??

Post by mrsK »

I don't think anyone knows what causes cancer.

A gene in your body goes haywire & then you get cancer.

That is the simplest way I have had it explained to me.
It's nice to be important,but more important to be nice.
koan
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Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 1:00 pm

Anticancer??

Post by koan »

I'm not really looking for the answer on the cause. What I'm hoping for are opinions on whether or not a product should be allowed to say "anticancer" on its label unless they have some kind of substantial data to back them up.

I'm not aware of any sufficient data on natural products to back up their use of the word.
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Lon
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Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2004 11:38 pm

Anticancer??

Post by Lon »

koan;939981 wrote: I encounter this word a lot and it makes very little sense to me.

Do they actually know, definitively, what causes cancer? How can something be anticancer when we know so little about it?

It shrinks tumours? Some people believe a tumour is the positive effort that bodies make to protect themselves from the illness by isolating the cells. Does shrinking tumours fight cancer?



I worry about this word because I believe anyone diagnosed with cancer would spend their last cent to find a cure and I want to know what kind of evidence the myriad of products that use the term offer to people who don't have a lot of time to mess around.


Sometimes anticancer is used instead of anti-carcinogenic. There are certain foods and beverages that are deemed to be anti-carcinogenic in that they are anti-oxidants. Green tea, broccoli, red wine. It's not suggested that they cure cancer, but that they may put off or prevent certain cancers. Not all cancers involve tumours, leukemia for example is a blood cancer. I have a condition called Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia which is another blood cancer. There is no cure for it but it is considered one of the better cancers to have (if there is such a thing) and is indolent.

I have no outward symptoms, feel fine and will no doubt die with it rather than from it. I do drink my green tea and eat my broccoli though>:wah:

Oh-----and never pass up the red wine.
koan
Posts: 16817
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 1:00 pm

Anticancer??

Post by koan »

Antioxidant is a separate category of action. I'm talking about bottles that include both antioxidant and anticancer on their labels.

btw, I continue to be very happy for you that your health isn't giving you problems and I was hoping you'd join in the thread so, thanks. :)



regarding tumours, I read something similar to what this site says regarding the purpose of tumours:

TUMORS HAVE A POSITIVE PURPOSE

We do not see how it can be maintained that tumors grow independently of the body and we do not believe that it can be shown that they serve no useful purpose. It will not be denied that those portions of a cyst, or at least some cysts, which are genetically related to neoplasms, serve a very definite and imminently useful purpose. A cyst which forms around a foreign body, a parasite for example, is definitely useful and protective.

I don't think that shrinking a tumour proves that the cancer has been dealt with and most of the anticancer claims have to do with studies conducted to see if the product shrinks tumours.
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mrsK
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Anticancer??

Post by mrsK »

koan;939981 wrote: I encounter this word a lot and it makes very little sense to me.

Do they actually know, definitively, what causes cancer? How can something be anticancer when we know so little about it?

It shrinks tumours? Some people believe a tumour is the positive effort that bodies make to protect themselves from the illness by isolating the cells. Does shrinking tumours fight cancer?



I worry about this word because I believe anyone diagnosed with cancer would spend their last cent to find a cure and I want to know what kind of evidence the myriad of products that use the term offer to people who don't have a lot of time to mess around.


koan;939985 wrote: I'm not really looking for the answer on the cause. What I'm hoping for are opinions on whether or not a product should be allowed to say "anticancer" on its label unless they have some kind of substantial data to back them up.

I'm not aware of any sufficient data on natural products to back up their use of the word.


I assummed you wanted to know what causes cancer as well as you asked this question in bold print above.
It's nice to be important,but more important to be nice.
koan
Posts: 16817
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 1:00 pm

Anticancer??

Post by koan »

mrsK;939994 wrote: I assummed you wanted to know what causes cancer as well as you asked this question in bold print above.


No harm, no foul. I just wanted to make sure it didn't turn into the main topic.
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mrsK
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Anticancer??

Post by mrsK »

Found this not sure if it explains a lot :confused:

http://www.anticancer.com/
It's nice to be important,but more important to be nice.
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