ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: another NY postie on October 28, 2009, 12:23:22 pm
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I had heard that there was a recent study the linked brain tumors to cell phone use in US. (When I was researching this summer I only found an Australian and Swedish published study). I was googling to find this recent study and I discovered that in the last couple of days, there was an annoucement that World Health Organization is going to publish a comprehensive international study that shows correlation between cell phone usage and tumors. This will apparently include ANs and will come out soon.
http://www.physorg.com/news175853675.html
Interesting....
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The link between cell phone usage and brain tumors has long been debated - and usually no connection can be found.
From the experiences noted by those of us on the forum, it seems like most of us don't buy into the theory - but you never know; we could be wrong.
It will be interesting to see what the results show, but as for me, I'm still going with the fish hatchery theory. :D LOL
Here's one of my favorite threads that most newbies probably haven't found yet. It's a few pages long, but well worth the read. Enjoy!
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=6970.0
Jan
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Yes, I know it is contraversial, but it is buzzing right now in press. This was a 30 million $$ study. It was written up all over the place, announcing findings are coming including in most NY papers so we should all hear about it soon. I also found this recent link that is disputing old studies and one to come out by European Union. Very interesting about France and their aggressive approach in light of recent research. This British group keeps getting prominent world scientists signing on to it and it mentions ANs quite a bit. All of them say more than 10 years of use and the big concern now is children who are getting cell phones so young. Time will tell as you say....and of course, we will never be able to say for sure...chicken and egg...
http://www.radiationresearch.org/pdfs/15reasons.asp
(I read the US report)...found France's approach very interesting too...just food for thought...
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I believe in this possibility, along with many others. To me any irritant to the cells over a period of time will cause abnormal growth. I`m also wondering about to many dental xrays over long periods of time. Good Luck, Mickey
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I agree with too many dental x-rays. My dentist wants to do routine x-rays every 6 months, and I refuse. Every 2 yrs seems more reasonable, unless there is a problem.
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I've commented numerous times on the 'cell phone theory' - to sum it up: I don't buy it. Not only are cell phones just a bit too convenient as the culprit but ANs were around long before cell phones were evn thought of. In my case, I never owned a cell phone and used my wife's on just a few occasions prior to my AN diagnosis. Of course, as Jan aptly stated, skeptics like me could be proven wrong - but I doubt it. However, the studies are interesting. Still, 'studies' can be skewed, just as polls can be skewed. Frankly, the cell phone - AN issue is inconsequential to me as my AN has been debulked and radiated - and I still only rarely use a cell phone. That noted, I'm as curious as the next person to learn the cause of tumor growth on the acoustic nerve sheath. I doubt it has much to do with the ultra-low-power radio waves emitted by cell phones, but I would like to see that ruled in or out so science can get on with seeking the cause of these abnormal growths and, one hopes, prevent future generations from having to deal with acoustic neuromas.
Jim
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I agree with Mr. Scott -- unfounded convenient arguments presented by self-serving special interest groups.
;)
Doc
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I don't buy the cell phone/AN link either. It just doesn't calculate for me. I got my cell phone in 1998. My AN was 1.8cm. If they grow 1-2mm per year, and it really is due to the cell phone use (which I've not really used that much and mostly used with a headset), then I probably got the AN right away after getting my cell phone and it grew at nearly the max every year. Why then don't the other millions of people using cell phones also get ANs? It just doesn't make sense to me. And then like Jim said, ANs have been around a lot longer than cell phones. For all we know, we're just finding more of them because of better technology. Perhaps the same percentage of people had them when they died of an unrelated cause (usually at an earlier age) and never knew they even had an AN. Perhaps. We just don't know. I would sure like to know, though.
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I have a tough time trusting any of these studies.
There are manufacturers, sales stores, and others that have a vested interest in showing there is not a linkage and there are trial lawyers salvating over the deep pockets they can pick.
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Even though my AN was diagnosed in 2005 my symptoms go back to the early 90's which was long before I got a cell phone. They also find many undiagnosed small AN's at autopsy when they need to look in that area. How many tiny ones are never seen and what is the actual incidence in the population? Then they would have to compare populations with and without x-ray or cell phone exposure. A massive undertaking for sure.
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I don't think they are trying to tie cell phones to all ANs or other brain tumors...as you said they have been around for many years before cell phones. I think they are trying to see why there has been an increase in brain tumors of which AN was one type of tumor studied. It is similiar to the autism debate and any other medical condition where there is an increase in diagnosis...it it better detection - for us MRIs - that catch them early or is it environmental. We will probably never know for sure but it is food for thought. The part about children, developing brains and early use of cell phones concerns me the most as I have young children...I agree there is an argument for both sides and both sides have an invested interest...time will tell on this one at some point.
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well since i never used a cell phone, still maybe 1 or 2 tiemsa month, and i got an AN i'm doubtful . but hey this old Commical Engineer will look at the data when and if it comes out in a readable form.
there are solutions though, thats whats important to me. and all in all the whole process of this AN removal has gone wonderfully. some minor crud from time to time, but all in all, not bad.
welcome in by the way.
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I am with Jim on this. It does not make sense. Acoustic Neuromas have been around forever. They should stop with the cell phone thing and look for real answers. I heard something about head injuries being a factor. Now that makes more sense. My son had a HUGE AN and he was 18 when DXd. According to stats he was not supposed to get an AN. 15% are over 4.0 and fast majority are in the 30-60 age range.
We talked about he cell phone thing and it did not make sense. But he did have a serious head injury when he was ten. He hit a wall sledding. He has had astma his whole life and had sinus surgery partially from the allergies and partially from breaking his nose in the head injury incident. When we heard that we thought maybe that is why he ended up with it prematurely. But it is obvious that there doesn't seem to be too much research yet. Once they get serious about the research, then maybe we will get some answers. This cell phone thing just seems to be a drama thing for the media. In my humble opinion.
Kind Regards,
Robyn
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Cheryl,
Thanks for the information. Although I don't think my AN was caused by cell phone use because I don't and never have used my cell phone with any real amount of regularity and when I do, I'm never on more than five minutes tops. I've often wondered if there was a link between cell phone use/radiation and brain tumors. I also worry since my kids both have cell phones and am trying to convince my husband that letting them text is a much better idea. He's afraid they'll walk in front of a car while their texting (not all together unrealistic either) but in my opinion, a better alternative to holding a cell phone less than an inch from their brains.
Wendy
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I saw a promo for Dr Oz that today he's going to be talking about the cell phone / brain tumor thing.
I personally don't think much of his show, but may watch if I'm around just to see what they try to say and if they talk about ANs.
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All I can say is ..... if we stopped eating/using everything that was "bad" for us, we would not be alive! ::) :o Everything in moderation, I say ..... :-*
Clarice
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Yes, and red dye #2 is going to kill us all!
If you search on "cell phones" you'll find multiple threads about cell phones and ANs.
Nothing has been proven - and I'm among the many who believe that nothing will ever been proven.
I still subscribe to the fish hatchery theory, myself ;) :D
Jan
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I agree with "everything in moderation". Cell phones may not be the direst cause of acoustic neuromas but could be another culprit and could help explain why more and more people are being diagnosed aside from MRI's. I have a cell phone but don't stay on it for more than 5 minutes. I need it to reach my children when I'm not home. I believe most people with AN's were BORN with the defective genes but I also believe certain things such as cell phones may contribute to new cases especially among those that use their phones for long periods. In the end, I would take an acoustic over a giloma anyday but damn these acoustics for messing with my life. :-[
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I believe that in the absense of a known cause, people will go overboard while trying to make sense of the whole thing. To some, the fish hatchery "explaination" makes sense to them, so they subscribe to that theory. To others, the use of cell phones being the culprit makes sense, so they assign value there. For others, the red dye #2 theory floats their boat, so off they go (off the deep end). And yet, most of us wait for a credible "cause" found by doctors that makes sense to us because nothing has been shown to definitively cause AN's.. So, most of us are in that place and will remain there.
Just my $0.02 worth.. Take it for what it's worth. I'm full of free advice. :)
Regards,
Brian
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I was only kidding about the fish hatchery theory ::) I think it's a whole lot of "bunk".
Jan
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Yeah, yeah.. Everyone knows you subscribe to the theory that fish born in a hatchery surrounded by Red Dye #2 and cell phone signals are the real culprit.. Personally, I think it's a Democratic conspiracy to control the world. But, who's counting. ;)
Brian
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But, who's counting. ;)
I'm not... I think its due to my mother's protests in the late 60's for woman's rights! :D
More press this week on this subject.. again, inconclusive..... more studies, no clear results... and heck, if true, what % could attribute to it? My sister died of a malignant brain tumor in 1969 at age 14... and certainly no cellphone use in her life at the time. Go figure. For me, truth or not truth... I'll take the fish hatchery excuse... with Red Dye #2.
Phyl
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The thing about cell phones, and for that matter red dye and fish hatcheries, is that you have to look at the numbers.
The WHO study followed some 13,000 people for about 10 years. That group would have about 1 or 2 acoustic neuromas in that time. That makes meaningful statistics pretty hard to come by. The highest reported increase in tumors was 39% (1 out of 8 studies). If that were the true number, what would that mean? It would mean that if 1 million people gave up their cell phones for a year, they would get only 10 acoustic neuromas among them, instead of 14 of them.
An acoustic neuroma is a rare condition. It doesn't make sense for a million people to give up using cell phones so that 4 people don't get an AN. The only people who might think it makes sense are people like us, who have already gotten one. One reporter pointed out that far more people die every year because they are texting or talking on cell phones while driving. Focusing on problems that are common makes far more sense.
40% may seem like a big increase (I doubt the real number is that high), but consider that if you buy two lottery tickets instead of one, you have improved your chances of winning by 100%. Does that suddenly make it likely that you will win? No it doesn't. And using a cell phone does not suddenly make it likely that you will get a brain tumor, either. Getting an acoustic neuroma remains a very unlikely thing, no matter what you do or don't do.
Steve
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Steve ~
Thanks for bringing logic to the discussion about 'studies' linking cell phones and the development of acoustic neuromas. Mathematics has never been my 'forte but your use of 'the numbers' (and their context) is enlightening.
Jim
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Yeah, yeah.. Everyone knows you subscribe to the theory that fish born in a hatchery surrounded by Red Dye #2 and cell phone signals are the real culprit.. Personally, I think it's a Democratic conspiracy to control the world.
You know, Pooter, I never considered a Democratic conspiracy but I think that just might be it ;) :D
Steve, your logic is very logical - but it's casting a negative light on our humorous speculations! LOL
I know, I know, Phyl. Back to the topic at hand ::)
Jan