With all the misinformation and disinformation out there on electronic cigarettes, we thought it would be helpful to clear the air about what is a carcinogen, what is cancer and how to avoid it.

As long as humans have DNA, humans will get cancer

While it might be hard for people to accept, Cancer is not a singular disease with a singular cause, biology or survival rate. In fact, calling cancer a disease does a disservice to the complexity of the process itself. Unlike say, AIDS, cancer is not caused by just one virus or one pathogen. Humans, animals, mammals – even plants can all exhibit cancer. Arguably, if you are composed of cells which multiply, you are at risk for cancer. While it is true that there are clearly things that are carcinogenic, there is no guaranty that when one is exposed to such a carcinogen that a person will, in fact, “get cancer.” And there begins a very complex analysis of the interplay between environment, genetic predisposition and just plain bad luck. Since 1971, America has invested over $200 Billion dollars just in cancer research alone. This says nothing of the amount of money spent on hospitals, surgeons, and health care management. Suffice it to say, cancer is one of the biggest businesses in America today. One could argue that were someone to find the “cure for cancer” it would quite literally collapse the US economy itself. We will let the reader hypothesize the ramifications of this insight with respect to Big Pharma’s economic incentives and how they might direct (or redirect) their research focus in order to ensure sustainable profit growth.

Charles Darwin, the Theory of Evolution and the origins of cancer.

Did you know that Charles Darwin enjoyed pipe smoking with The Beagle seamen?

Mutation and cell division that passes on that mutation is not necessarily a bad thing. As Charles Darwin observed, adaptation to environmental stresses can make the difference between survival and extinction. The adaptation he spoke of were and are the result of tiny mutations in the species’ genetic and evolutionary path. When these adaptations work in the positive, the species finds a genetic advantage and lives on to procreate. When these adaptations work in the negative, the species is weakened and dies off. In this way, the Natural Selection process is assured to produce a healthier, more adaptable genetic lineage of any species. Therefore, the adaptation process, driven by the mutation process is an important component to survival of any species. However, that process is not fool proof. It can be triggered to produce dangerous permutations, and ones that when they start, cannot be stopped.

Suicidal tendencies: Cancer’s Manifest Destiny

Apoptosis is the technical term for “programmed cellular death.” This basically means that cells have genetically programmed within them a trigger that tells them when they are no longer needed. There is a predetermined process by which the cells shrink and then disassemble. What is fascinating is that up to 70 Billion cells programmatically die in our bodies each day. Over a year, that’s equal to our entire body weight in suicidal cells! Essentially, apoptosis predefines how a cell stops dividing and accepts death in order to maintain the harmony of the organism as a whole. Apoptosis could be considered the most humane, self-sacrificing and pious means by which the individual sacrifices for the good of the community. One does not need to look hard to find examples of that mindset in our literature and our religious themes. The important notion here is that human cells have within them the genetic programming that tells them when to grow and when to stop growing. Moreover, these individual cells appear to have a feedback mechanism whereby the whole of the organism communicates to the individual cells letting it know that its time for sacrifice is neigh and that it should commence the cellular death protocol.

Contrast this with the cancer cell. The cancer cell refuses to die. The cancer cell is an individualist and wants its freedom from the tyranny of the socialist norm. The cancer cell prioritizes individual freedom and personal survival as more important than the safety of the whole. In response to a particular stimulus (e.g. tobacco smoke), the cancerous cells divide and divide uncontrollably. As they find themselves crowded and in competition for resources, some seek their fortune in new territories. Once they arrive, they quickly attack the native cells who are

This land was made for you and me!

no match for this army of darkness. As the cancerous cells grow, they dam blood flow, redirecting the resources, and dumping their pollutants into the blood stream oblivious to the ultimate impact that this will have on the host. Eventually, the host (e.g. human) can no longer sustain this process and either excises the tumors and/or dies itself.

Malignant tumors are bad neighbors

The cancer that most of us tend to think of when we hear the word is “malignant neoplasm.” This literally means “angry new growths.” However, cancer as we discussed is a natural process that occurs within the body. Moreover, not all cancers will become malignant and spread themselves throughout the body (e.g. metastasize.) Curiously, humans possess genes called “proto-oncogenes” which when stimulated start the cancer process. The very fact that humans have genetic markers for the cancer process speaks to the fact that cancer is a part of human evolution and human existence. What is unclear is what pathogens or mutagens (things that cause mutation) induce these proto-oncogenes to start the cellular super-division process.

What is a carcinogen?

Basically, anything that can induce a cell to divide at an unhealthy rate. However, all carcinogens are not mutagens. A mutagen is something that directly affects the cell’s genetic code. Mutagens are much more dangerous as they directly attack the DNA itself.

• Alcohol is a carcinogen.
• Peanut butter is a carcinogen
• Burnt toast is a carcinogen
• Many plastics are carcinogens
• Deep frying potatoes produces carcinogens
• Pan frying meat causes carcinogens
• Dry cleaning fluid is carcinogenic
• Nicotine IS NOT a carcinogen
• Tobacco smoke, however IS CARCINOGENIC.

What is a mutagen?

A mutagen is much more pernicious because, as we said, a mutagen has the effect of altering the genetic material within the cell and creating mutations from damaging and or reprogramming DNA. X-rays have mutagenic impact on cells as the photons literally knock out pieces of one’s genetic code. Burning fossil fuels has a mutagenic effect on humans’ DNA as well. As early as 1775, London chimney sweeps were found to have increased cases of testicular cancer due to inhaling coal dust. In the 1880s, it was observed that wine pickers in France had unusually high rates of cancerous skin lesions around the head and neck – precisely where they were exposed to the sun. Solar radiation is, as we now know, a very powerful mutagen. Common pesticides used in growing much of nation’s food supply are known to have mutagenic affects, particularly on pregnant mothers and young children.

How much exposure do we have to carcinogens and mutagens in our daily life?

How about a 3-some?

If they both smoke, which do you think will get cancer first?

A lot! If you drive on the freeway, live near a factory, drink water, breathe air, are exposed to sunlight, drink alcohol, eat peanut butter, smoke, eat fast food, use Styrofoam, use plastic utensils, grill meat, deep fry anything – you are at risk for being exposed to mutagens and carcinogens! What is a human to do?! Well, not much. Modern society has become a mutagen and carcinogenic stew and we cannot escape it. In fact, even if you were to run to the North Pole, you’d be out of luck. Recent findings are showing that Polar Bears have high amounts of a variety of cancer-causing materials in their skin. Moreover, holes in the ozone due to fluorocarbons are making it impossible to avoid increased UV radiation no matter where you go. Australians are particularly at risk since it appears that the holes in the ozone are concentrating over the Southern Hemisphere the most. Is the answer to give up and indulge in the pleasure of excessive exposure? No, clearly not. But it is important to understand risks and risk factors. Simply calling something a carcinogen doesn’t mean that you will, in fact, get cancer by simple exposure. There are a complex set of variables that make each person unique. Therefore, prediction with any certainty is currently impossible. However, there are things we can do to lower our exposures to these dangers. Here are some simple guidelines:

• Eliminate all high fructose corn syrup (or any corn-based product) from your diet
• ***Stop smoking tobacco immediately***
• Reduce your caloric intake by cutting out unnecessary sugars
• Avoid artificial sweeteners of any kind
• Reduce your consumption of fast foods
• Eliminate fluoride from your diet
• Check your water pipes for lead contamination
• Do not use synthetic carpeting
• Do not drink water from plastic bottles (these transmit petro-chemicals)
• Do not microwave plastic containers (this injects plastic molecules into your food)
• Eliminate all plastics with BPA
• Reduce your use of shampoos and conditioners with parabens and thalites
• Reduce or eliminate altogether the consumption of red meat
• Reduce alcohol consumption as it increases the solubility of carcinogens in your blood
• Reduce your saturated fat intake, particularly trans-fats from corn-based products
• Avoid over exposure to the sun

What to do:

• Do eat lots of leafy, green vegetables
• Do eat organic produce
• Do walk every day
• Do consider Vitamin D supplements
• Do consider Omega 3 supplements, particularly for young children
• Do sleep 7 hours
• Do wear sun screen

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