Cancer: 101 Solutions to a Preventable Epidemic

by Liz Armstrong, Anne Wordsworth, Guy Dauncey

Book Overview

Cancer--the word strikes fear in people's hearts. With more people getting cancer every year, the big question must be: How can we prevent this epidemic? Cancer: 101 Solutions to a Preventable... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0865715424
• ISBN13: 9780865715424
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: New Society Publishers
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

At present, cancer is about money, not prevention.

"Cancer: 101 Solutions to a Preventable Epidemic" is an extremely valuable book that provides a summary of the what is known about the prevention of cancer, and what actions should be taken, including political actions. The present emphasis in the cancer industry is on collecting money from scared people who will die. For example, the book recommends you see the web site of Samuel S. Epstein M. D., who is quoted on page 62. According to Dr. Epstein, the American Cancer Society is the world's wealthiest "nonprofit" institution. Quote from that chapter: "Priorities [of the Amercian Cancer Society] remain fixated on damage control -- screening, diagnosis, and treatment -- with indifference or even hostility to cancer prevention. -- Dr. Samuel Epstein" (The misspelling of "American" is in the book.) In the United States, the present politics surrounding cancer is viciously corrupt. Sometimes drugs cost in the U.S. 5 times what they cost in Canada, for example. (See page 6.) ERROR: The chapter that starts on page 84, "Minimizing Your Exposure to Radiation" is correct except for the sections titled "Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR)" and "Cellphones and Power Lines", which are partly nonsense. Apparently the authors of the book are not scientists themselves. Planck's constant expresses the intensity of interaction between EMR and matter. Planck's constant is a VERY small number. Remember that anything that is warmer than absolute zero radiates EMR. The Sun, for example, radiates EMR of all wavelengths longer than ultra-ultraviolet. Certainly you would not want to expose yourself for a long time to EMR from being very close to a radar or TV transmitter, for example. However, no one has been able to show any connection, or possible manner of connection, between cancer and the tiny amount of EMR from cell phones. The researcher mentioned in the book who discusses a link between chemical change and EMR of cell phone wavelengths was apparently using enough energy to cause local heating. No one doubts that heating causes chemical changes. Be very careful of "scientific" studies that aren't scientific. Be very careful of good studies that are incorrectly interpreted. The book says that cancer is more than 200 different kinds of diseases, all of which are characterized by out-of-control division of cells. (See page 8.) However, apparently the biochemistry of almost no cancers, or none, is completely understood. The book provides sensible advice for prevention, such as avoid extended exposure to chemicals and pollution. However, no one should take the advice as a complete understanding. For example, it is well known that smoking tobacco pre-disposes people to get cancer. However, some chain smokers die of other diseases than cancer, or die of what is called "old age". To use the book correctly, it is necessary to understand that a lot is not known.

Of special note are the ten proposed and specific global solutions to the problems identified.

Cancer comes in many forms and affects every population demographic. "Cancer: 101 Solutions To A Preventable Epidemic" is the collaborative work of Liz Armstrong (photographer and environmental activist), Guy Dauncey (author and founder of the Solutions Project), and Anne Wordsworth (writer and environmental researcher). The primary focus is upon those environmental poisons and other factors that have so substantially contributed to the growing numbers of cancer cases appearing in America and around the world. The focus is also upon possible solutions to avoiding, preventing, and ameliorating those environmental factors by community activists, healthcare workers, labor unions, city and county municipalities, businesses, state and federal government agencies. Of special note are the ten proposed and specific global solutions to the problems identified. "Cancer: 101 Solutions To A Preventable Epidemic" is very strongly recommended reading for medical professionals, governmental policy makers, environmental activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in cancer and cancer prevention.