Your deodorant might cause cancer

[moe.ron]

Concern over deodorant chemicals

Chemicals from underarm deodorants and other cosmetics can build up inside the body, according to a study.

British researchers have found traces of chemicals called parabens in tissue taken from women with breast cancer.

While there is no evidence they cause cancer, the scientists have called for the use of parabens to be reviewed.

The cosmetics industry insists the chemicals, which are used as preservatives and are approved for use by regulators, are safe.

Dr Philippa Darbre and colleagues at the University of Reading carried out tests on samples of 20 different human breast tumours.

Writing in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, they say they found traces of parabens in every sample.

Link to the Rest of the Story

[adduncan]

Dude, starting a thread off w/ the title "Your deodorant might cause cancer" when the article you link to clearly does not say that, is not too bright.

First, this is an urban legend that has been floating around for years. The reality is there IS no proof, even with this new article. (I'll get to that in a second)

From the American Cancer Society, quoting a legitimate statistically-significant study published in the JNCI.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/co...ast_Cancer.asp

Note that the sample size included 1600 women, not 20.

Now on to this little pilot study.

OK, so he found some of the chemicals from antiperspirants in breast tissue of breast cancer patients.
First question - did he do this same study on women WITHOUT breast cancer? No. Can he prove that these chemicals are only present in cancer patients? No. This is bad science, by definition.

Second question - did he do the study in men? No. (Men *do* have breast tissue and they *do* get breast cancer.) Can he prove that these chemicals are only associated with female breast cancer and not male breast cancer? No.

The entire article warned against exactly the kind of statement you made. There is NO proof that this is a cause of cancer, and making a post suggesting that is nothing short of cruel to people with cancer or at high risk for it.

Find another way to rile people up and get your jollies. This one was NOT funny.

Adrienne

[PhiPsiRuss]

It's true.

[moe.ron]

Originally posted by adduncan

Find another way to rile people up and get your jollies. This one was NOT funny.

Adrienne

Yes it was

[Dionysus]

Originally posted by adduncan
Dude, starting a thread off w/ the title "Your deodorant might cause cancer" when the article you link to clearly does not say that, is not too bright.

First, this is an urban legend that has been floating around for years. The reality is there IS no proof, even with this new article. (I'll get to that in a second)

From the American Cancer Society, quoting a legitimate statistically-significant study published in the JNCI.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/co...ast_Cancer.asp

Note that the sample size included 1600 women, not 20.

Now on to this little pilot study.

OK, so he found some of the chemicals from antiperspirants in breast tissue of breast cancer patients.
First question - did he do this same study on women WITHOUT breast cancer? No. Can he prove that these chemicals are only present in cancer patients? No. This is bad science, by definition.

Second question - did he do the study in men? No. (Men *do* have breast tissue and they *do* get breast cancer.) Can he prove that these chemicals are only associated with female breast cancer and not male breast cancer? No.

The entire article warned against exactly the kind of statement you made. There is NO proof that this is a cause of cancer, and making a post suggesting that is nothing short of cruel to people with cancer or at high risk for it.

Find another way to rile people up and get your jollies. This one was NOT funny.

Adrienne

According to my past journalist professor, she said it is okay to use those kind of titles. In which other ways are you going to grab the readers' attention?

[sugar and spice]

Journalists and journalism professors should be shot.

[adduncan]

Originally posted by Dionysus
According to my past journalist professor, she said it is okay to use those kind titles. In what other ways are you going to grab readers' attention?

I guess it just depends on your priorities.

Journalism professors (I have met) don't give a hoot about the people who are reading their content.

People involved in treating and researching cancer, however, are trying to save lives and prevent panic in a population that doesn't necessarily have the educational resources to study these issues on their own and rely on the media for information.

I would be curious to know whether your journalism professor drew a line between a "catchy headline" and an irresponsible suggestion in order to cause a panic.

If you worked in my office for a *day*, you would see the kind of negative results that these "headlines" have. It isn't want you would ponder in the security of a journalism office.

I could launch into a rant about what I think "journalistic ethics" really are today, but I think I made my point.