Tuesday
Jul172007
Breast cancer? I'll have a fry-up, please
Tuesday, July 17, 2007 
I'm confused. Today's Daily Mail (the paper that systematically chronicles every health scare under the sun) reports that a fry-up washed down with grapefruit juice could make some cancer drugs more effective. Doctors (who are always right) "believe that taking the breast cancer drug lapatinib at the same time as a fatty meal may make it work at least three times as well".
At least the Mail has the good grace to point out that other, recent, research showed that eating grapefruit "may raise the risk of breast cancer". And what about the effect of all that fatty food? Decisions, decisions.
Reader Comments (4)
Well that's the problem with publicising all these reports about things that *may* do this and *could* do that.
They're all inconclusive, and they all contradict eachother precisely because they *are* inconclusive, and people end up totally confused. No doubt one was reported because someone somewhere wants research money for the grapefruit effect, and another wants research money for the fatty foods effect.
The big shocker in the last couple of years is that politicians are actually prepared to base legislation on, and restrict people's freedoms on the basis of these 'mays' and 'coulds'.
I 'may' contract some serious infection if I come into contact with it while out shopping. Perhaps I should stay home and starve. Ah, but more accidents happen in the home than anywhere else, so home isn't safe. Best stay out. Ah, but if I stay out I might catch the sun and get skin cancer... oh hang on, last year they reported that sunshine prevents skin cancer as well as causing it. What to do what to do...
The only thing we *can* do (if we wish to live at all) is to do what we've done through humanity's history, i.e. put one foot in front of the other and take our chances. There are no certainties, no guarantees. Forget that idea. Just live.
I stopped reading any health stories along time ago. Eat what you want, drink what you want, smoke, smile and be happy. (first 3 in moderation, last two unlimited)
I would only disagree on one point GreatScot. I always rather liked the phrase:
Everything in moderation - including moderation ;)
Gerry -
BOTH posts spot on - as usual !!
But where HAVE all the Sensible People gone (naturally, I exclude the contributors to this site).................?
Never mind about Global Warming: it's Creeping Brain-Death that we should be worried about !