Can Mapping Differences in Cancer Rates Help Pinpoint Environmental Factors? (telegraph.co.uk) 25
"Scientists have made the first steps to develop an atlas of world cancer, hoping it will bring us closer to a cure," reports the Telegraph.
"A map showing stark differences in the incidence of 10 types of cancer between Spain and Portugal has sparked a race to pinpoint causes and risk factors people should avoid." It shows huge differences for people living only a short distance apart, sometimes across the border between Spain and Portugal, and others occurring within the same country. Scientists say it will take years to solve the puzzle completely but are confident that the map provides the pieces. There are easier questions and more complex riddles. But it all points to environmental factors — as opposed to genetics — playing a major role in causing cancers.
The lung cancer map tells a clear story of far higher levels of smoking tobacco in Spain than in Portugal, with the latter country showing a consistent hue of dark blue for a lower risk of mortality, while Spain has large areas lit up in red, at least on the map representing men. Twenty per cent of Spanish adults are daily smokers, compared with just over 11 per cent in Portugal. But the data from cancer of the larynx, also linked to smoking, tells a vastly different story, with a high mortality risk for men shown straddling the border in southern Portugal and south western Spain, as well as patches in the north of both countries. "The lung cancer and smoking connection is very clear, so why in other cancers that have a strong link with tobacco are we seeing such surprising differences?" asks Pablo Fernández-Navarro, the lead co-ordinator of the atlas from the Spanish side.
"This is what is so fantastic. If whole countries had uniform levels of mortality, the maps would be in plain colours. Given that it is not the case, now we have to investigate and explain these differences, eliminating one factor after another," Fernández-Navarro told The Telegraph.
In the case of larynx cancer, the Spanish epidemiologist says the map confirms that smoking is by no means the only risk factor, and that other elements must also be at work, from alcohol intake to levels of pollutants such as asbestos or petrochemicals in the environment.
Thanks to Slashdot reader Bruce66423 for sharing the link.
"A map showing stark differences in the incidence of 10 types of cancer between Spain and Portugal has sparked a race to pinpoint causes and risk factors people should avoid." It shows huge differences for people living only a short distance apart, sometimes across the border between Spain and Portugal, and others occurring within the same country. Scientists say it will take years to solve the puzzle completely but are confident that the map provides the pieces. There are easier questions and more complex riddles. But it all points to environmental factors — as opposed to genetics — playing a major role in causing cancers.
The lung cancer map tells a clear story of far higher levels of smoking tobacco in Spain than in Portugal, with the latter country showing a consistent hue of dark blue for a lower risk of mortality, while Spain has large areas lit up in red, at least on the map representing men. Twenty per cent of Spanish adults are daily smokers, compared with just over 11 per cent in Portugal. But the data from cancer of the larynx, also linked to smoking, tells a vastly different story, with a high mortality risk for men shown straddling the border in southern Portugal and south western Spain, as well as patches in the north of both countries. "The lung cancer and smoking connection is very clear, so why in other cancers that have a strong link with tobacco are we seeing such surprising differences?" asks Pablo Fernández-Navarro, the lead co-ordinator of the atlas from the Spanish side.
"This is what is so fantastic. If whole countries had uniform levels of mortality, the maps would be in plain colours. Given that it is not the case, now we have to investigate and explain these differences, eliminating one factor after another," Fernández-Navarro told The Telegraph.
In the case of larynx cancer, the Spanish epidemiologist says the map confirms that smoking is by no means the only risk factor, and that other elements must also be at work, from alcohol intake to levels of pollutants such as asbestos or petrochemicals in the environment.
Thanks to Slashdot reader Bruce66423 for sharing the link.
What makes me curious... (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
Maybe a little, but the hidden secondary influence for most of these cancers is going to turn out to be primarily linked to dietary factors or insufficient sanitation practices. There will also be both resistances and weaknesses to certain cancers that are genetically based, but in the end it's gonna be mostly stuff like "Don't eat palm oil." and "Wash your hands after you poop."
Re:What makes me curious... (Score:4, Funny)
Interesting... either modded down by Big Palm Oil or Big Unwashed Poopy-hands.
Re: (Score:2)
shame on you for not trying to think & learn first. The Terran mag field is a tiny fraction of the fields near any electric power transformer, which are a microscopic fraction of the fields in any medical probe instrumentation.
Re: What makes me curious... (Score:2)
Source Publication (Score:5, Informative)
Hereâ(TM)s the non-paywalled link to the actual research pdf document. Website is very slow right now.
https://www.isciii.es/QueHacem... [isciii.es]
Questionable headline (Score:5, Interesting)
Mapping disease rates has worked for decades. Not just for cancer, but things like heart disease and diet advertising. Why is this even a question?
Re:Questionable headline (Score:4, Interesting)
> Why is this even a question?
There are corporations who have battled against studies that show their products, industry, and infrastructure cause cancer for almost 100 years.
From the brain cancer scares of the 90s to the known Leukemia risks associated with locality to high traffic roads (ie Freeways) to Erin Brockovich to Monsanto, the world has suffered all manner of interference and FUD from companies trying to defend themselves from liability...even when it wasn't necessary.
European countries and multinational organizations have dared to start to look for patterns again, which will likely bring up a whole new war on science to push that cancers are an inherent medical mystery that are largely random. Luckily, data is abundant and easily accessible, which will make it much harder than decades past.
Re: Questionable headline (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Anti-vax nonsense. You could just have easily attributed all those 'symptoms' to having drank unfiltered tap water.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I think they just want to get funding to do it.
There is going to be a group of people who will not want to fund it, besides saying they don't want to do it, because it would show their dirty laundry, where popular businesses which are economic drivers for the area, may be shown to be causing a lot of harm to their communities.
I live near a small town, who's economy is centered around plastics manufacturer. The water supply (including the private wells) were polluted with PFOA, in which causes cancer. A Ci
Re: Meaning position didn't matter? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Gravity variations do indeed exist over short distances. Go up a mountain and take another reading. The extra rock below your feet makes a difference.
Re: Meaning position didn't matter? (Score:4, Interesting)
Could be the methods of measuring or distance to healthcare facilities between the two areas, difference in classification and coding. Eg if the persons in Portugal have to travel to Lisbon for care while the Spaniards have a local facility, death rates in that area may look very different as elderly may opt to live in a care facility around the hospital and thus their domicile changed right before death.
Re: (Score:2)
I was looking for someone to mention proximity to Hospital/health center.
Along with that is the proficiency of the staff, not every hospital has a cancer ward or specialist, let alone an Oncologist.
The lack of detection of cancer and the spotty reporting of symptoms (in some regions) strongly influences these records.
OTOH: I love data/charts/maps so I want to see this, I keep many grains of NaCl handy while reviewing these.
Re: (Score:2)
Seems like the comment about "It shows huge differences for people living only a short distance apart" means position isn't the reason for the differences. Move on and look for other factors.
Not necessarily. There can be large and abrupt changes in all kind of geologic or environmental factors. Water quality can vary dramatically from valley to valley. Radon levels (a large driver of lung cancer) can be incredibly high in one place and virtually nonexistent a mile away. National borders often follow geologic features that are linked to such factors.
And of course there's the national habits (e.g., smoking rates), prevalence of early detection, availability of treatment, etc.
There's a lot to proc
Increased leukemia rates close to nukes... (Score:2)
... in children. That will make the nuclear fanatics try to suppress this.
Re: (Score:2)
So there's no mention of leukemia, children, or nuclear plants in the TFA or the original that I can see. Are you just fearmongering or what?