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Why are so many young people getting cancer?

nature.com

201–210 of 254 posts

Re: Why are so many young people getting cancer?

#201

What I find interesting is the concept of dead food versus live food. This is just something I wonder about. For example a dead apple is one that was picked a year ago, sold today, kept in storage until now. Long shelf life - is the crucial change in our eating that I can see. When was the last time you had a fresh apple? Does the food industry want us to consider the health benefits of a dead apple versus a living a…

> For example a dead apple is one that was picked a year ago, sold today, kept in storage until now. It has always been normal for certain fruits and vegetables, such as apples, pears, potatoes, etc. to be stored for months in a cellar. In the old days, you simple could not get a fresh apple outside harvest time. Your concept of "dead food vs live food" seems rather questionable.

Seconded. Every culture discovers ways to preserve food beyond their natural life. You ain't eating no fresh veggies in the winter of 1790. Everything you had was pickled. And you didn't get cancer because something will kill you before cancer did.

If anything the modern cold chain and globalized food supply and just the abundance of food in general means we have more access to fresh food than our ancestors even though they farmed and we mostly don't.

Re: Why are so many young people getting cancer?

#202
post #190

If I had to bet, it would be on HPV causing a majority of the rise in colorectal cancer. It is a major cause of throat cancer in men[0] and causes almost 100% of cervical cancer in women[1]. We have had a significant increase in anal sex over the past 10+ years[2] and are now seeing an increase in colorectal cancer. "Britain has found that the proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds engaging in heterosexual anal intercours…

Contrary to what you say there have been large studies [1], they just disagree with your article from 2005(!). [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S09598...

"Conclusions

HPV may be associated with a subset of colorectal cancers. Future large-scale multicenter case–control studies with data on risk factors such as lifestyle and sexual behaviour are needed."

Is this the disagreement? How does it disagree with a study showing there might be a link, but that it needs more research - "HPV infection may play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis"?

I'm honestly really confused here. Because the study you linked _agrees_ with the one I linked.

Did you also notice that your link is from 2014 and looked at data from 22 March, 2013(!!) or earlier? Or does the age not matter in this instance, but does matter in the link I provided?

In 2019 (since dates are really important, I guess), the KFF directly stated that the vaccine is targeted to the "...9 strains of HPV associated with most cervical cancer, anal cancer, and throat cancer".

https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/the-hpv-vaccine-acc...

Re: Why are so many young people getting cancer?

#203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no increase in background radiation.

This suggests otherwise, https://radwatch.berkeley.edu/background-radiation/ Another exposure increase is from increased home insulation likely increases radon exposure.

That link suggests nothing of the sort. That aside, I’ve been tracking background radiation for years with my own sensors (for other reasons). I can’t replicate this claim there either, as expected.

Re: Why are so many young people getting cancer?

#204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no increase in background radiation.

This suggests otherwise, https://radwatch.berkeley.edu/background-radiation/ Another exposure increase is from increased home insulation likely increases radon exposure.

That doesn't talk about an increase in radiation. If there was an issue, we would see it in flight crew. There is also a difference with altitude and soil composition, and that would show up in the data.

Re: Why are so many young people getting cancer?

#205

If I had to bet, it would be on HPV causing a majority of the rise in colorectal cancer. It is a major cause of throat cancer in men[0] and causes almost 100% of cervical cancer in women[1]. We have had a significant increase in anal sex over the past 10+ years[2] and are now seeing an increase in colorectal cancer. "Britain has found that the proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds engaging in heterosexual anal intercours…

what I don't understand is why hpv vaccination isn't given to older people?

Re: Why are so many young people getting cancer?

#206

Poor diet seems most likely. In particular too much focus on protein and not enough fibre. Most people get enough protein but only 5% of Americans get enough fibre in their diet.

I wonder how much of that is because if you hear fiber is good for you and then you start doing fiber supplements or eating foods with more fiber, you immediately get gassy for like four days and it hurts. So one just goes, I'll just keep eating hamburgers then...

Apparently (heard from several sources, haven't tried myself), sticking with it for a few weeks causes your gut biome to adapt, then you gas anymore.

Re: Why are so many young people getting cancer?

#207
post #35

The normalization of anabolic steroid usage is likely a large contributor to certain cancers in men.

Probably not common enough to move the needle much; they’re not _that_ normalised.

They are in Australia and the UK. Go to a gym in Aus, at least a third of the men there are on the juice, and sometimes more depending on the gym you go to.

Re: Why are so many young people getting cancer?

#208
post #205

If I had to bet, it would be on HPV causing a majority of the rise in colorectal cancer. It is a major cause of throat cancer in men[0] and causes almost 100% of cervical cancer in women[1]. We have had a significant increase in anal sex over the past 10+ years[2] and are now seeing an increase in colorectal cancer. "Britain has found that the proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds engaging in heterosexual anal intercours…

what I don't understand is why hpv vaccination isn't given to older people?

Cost and the statistical property that older people have fewer sexual partners on average. There's also a sort of fatalist assumption that you've already been maximally exposed. If the vaccine was zero cost, you'd give it to everyone.

Re: Why are so many young people getting cancer?

#209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kinda surprised at the idea that HPV is the cause; at least in the US, there was a fairly large push about 15 years ago to get more people (particularly teenage girls and young women) vaccinated against HPV. Would we not see a corresponding dip in deaths related to HPV-associated cancers by now?

Two things, I think. 1. The original guidance did not call for boys to get the vaccine. It does now. 2. We're talking about two different age groups. The article talks about those under 50. The group who got the HPV vaccine as part of their normal schedule are now just hitting their early 20s. There's also still a huge number of people in the US who have HPV. It's really, really common. "Approximately 42.5 million Am…

> The group who got the HPV vaccine as part of their normal schedule are now just hitting their early 20s.

Uh, their 30s.

Re: Why are so many young people getting cancer?

#210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True, but “normal schedule” is hiding a bit of subtlety there: the hpv vaccine was recommended for women up to 26 at the time, so the oldest women who got it then would be pushing 50 now.

Not sure if there's something more recent than this, but it was about 15.5% of adults aged 27-45. It also notes this: "Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading sexually transmitted infection in the United States, and 85% of sexually active individuals will be infected at some point in their lifetime" So, if you're not vaccinated and have had multiple sexual partners, it is rather likely you have or have had HPV. htt…

There are many strains, though, and the vaccine provides coverage against a few of the most harmful, so it's still probably worth getting even if you may have been exposed to a subset of strains.
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