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Cancer Treatments and Care

Dr. Burstein’s Cancer Treatments and Care blog has now been retired. We appreciate all the wisdom and support Dr. Burstein has brought to the WebMD community throughout the years. Continue to get the latest information about cancer by checking out the Cancer Health Center. To talk with others about cancer, visit the cancer message boards.

May 21, 2007

Cancer Confusion
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Does "X" cause cancer? Does "Y" prevent cancer? Each day seems to bring a new announcement that one can bring cancer upon oneself, or spare oneself from cancer, by simply changing something about diet, lifestyle, or some other small modification. There is one enormous example of this - smoking. Smoking clearly causes lung, head and neck, bladder, esophageal, pancreatic, cervical and other cancers, and is the #1 source of preventable cancers.

Beyond that, much of what passes for "cancer prevention" is supported by very limited data, conjecture, and may even be misleading. This is particularly true for claims about vitamins, foods, or nutrients that might be linked, or not, to cancer risk or prevention.

The study identified in this recent WebMD article suggests that the bombardment of claims about cancer causes and prevention has led to massive confusion in the public mind.

Are you puzzled? Where do you think reliable information about cancer risk comes from? What things do you believe might prevent cancer? I'll start with quitting smoking, getting regular exercise, and using effective sunscreen.

Now it's your turn. Post a comment and tell me what you think of all the cancer studies in the news.

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Posted by: Harold Burstein, MD, PhD at 4:27 PM


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Welcome to the WebMD Cancer blog
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Welcome to the WebMD Cancer Treatment and Care Blog. I am a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I have been part of the WebMD community for many years, staffing the Cancer Treatment Message Board. That has been a very gratifying experience for me, and hopefully readers.

Cancer is a common disease in our society, affecting many families throughout the US and across the world. Cancer treatment and care are subjects that stir strong emotions because of the serious nature of a cancer diagnosis, the often-unsatisfactory treatment options, and the deep hopes and fears of cancer patients, their friends, and loved ones.

This blog will try to give people interested in cancer a forum for discussing advances in cancer treatment, and to comment on the social and cultural aspects of cancer. I hope it will be an interesting venue for readers and patients, and a compliment to our message board.

Thanks for joining us.

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Posted by: Harold Burstein, MD, PhD at 4:21 PM


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