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In reply to the discussion: Most cancer types 'just bad luck' [View all]sarge43
(29,173 posts)25. One of the reasons for the rise of cancer rates
in general more people are living long enough to succumb. Until the 20th century, infectious diseases were far more lethal, especially for the malnourished (a lot of those) and children. Along with malaria, smallpox probably killed more people than all the wars and cancer combined. According to the Wiki article, by the 18th century smallpox was killing 400K Europeans each year.
Another, better early diagnosis, better record keeping and flat better understanding of the disease.
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Recent studies have shown a somewhat shocking correlation between cancer rates ...
JEFF9K
Jan 2015
#34
So many things I am sensitive to years later I will see an article saying it is linked
lunasun
Jan 2015
#7
I wonder if asthma, add, colitis, alzheimer's and autism are just bad luck?
appalachiablue
Jan 2015
#4
So you explain it by a vast network of scientists shilling for industries and making false reports..
Fred Sanders
Jan 2015
#26
Cancer was not far more rare, per capita, 100 years ago than today, some types were, but there are reasons.
Fred Sanders
Jan 2015
#14
That *median* life expectancy was due largely to child and infant mortality
CrawlingChaos
Jan 2015
#40
as a premenopausal BC survivor who might have had more kids, I've read a lot about this too
zazen
Jan 2015
#51
And how many more carcinogens, pathogens, and polluted air & lakes are there now vs. ancient greece?
Elmer S. E. Dump
Jan 2015
#24
Not to mention smoking rates, obesity, no exercise, toxins, living longer, sun exposure, etc.
Fred Sanders
Jan 2015
#27
The problem with anecdotes is that you can't set up controls for a sample size of one.
evirus
Jan 2015
#19
Um, It DIDN'T happen. Those are far from the only carcinogens in existance but
GreatGazoo
Jan 2015
#38
You're saying, if I understand you correctly, that the body evolved a separate system to fight
GreatGazoo
Jan 2015
#41
Does this mean doctors will quit trying to act like cancer is some moral failing on our parts?
Jamastiene
Jan 2015
#58