Most Cancers Occur by Random Chance

[Anaxagoras]

More Cancers Occur by Random Chance Than for Any Other Reason, Study Finds

Specifically, about 2/3. Another 5% or so are due to inherited mutations, and the rest may be due to lifestyle choices or environmental factors.

We usually attribute cancer to inherited genes such as the BRACA1 or BRACA2 mutations, responsible for breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. Or else, a lifestyle choice like smoking or something to do with the environment, say exposure to pollution or radiation. A new study published in the journal Science however, makes a strong case for random chance as the biggest driver.

The vast majority of cancers are just a mistake, an error in DNA replication, researchers say. In this way, developing cancer in many cases is unavoidable. Geneticist Bert Vogelstein and mathematician Cristian Tomasetti, at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, conducted the study, a follow-up to an earlier one, which arrived at the same conclusion.

Of course, some people took issue with this:

Vogelstein and Tomasetti set off a firestorm of debate when they released similar results two years ago. One problem, critics argue, is that these findings dishearten patients. Why should they pursue a healthy lifestyle if they might get cancer anyway?

Well, actually, this doesn't even cover heart disease, emphysema and so on. Still plenty of reasons to "pursue a healthy lifestyle". Besides, this puts the cart before the horse. Science is about the pursuit of truth, not the pursuit of something to motivate people or something to make people feel good or "empowered".

[Doctor X]

People who are otherwise healthy tend to do better when confronted with a physical challenge such as cancer than those who are not.

--J.D.

[Abdul Alhazred]

Random chance == we don't know (yet).

[ed]

aren't errors in dna replication the basis for evolution?

[Anaxagoras]

Random chance == we don't know (yet).

Not really. There seems to be a pretty good theory about the mechanism. It involves things like random cosmic rays colliding with the DNA molecules or some such thing. Hence, effectively random. Just like rolling dice yields an effectively random result.

[Anaxagoras]

aren't errors in dna replication the basis for evolution?

Yes. Among other things. More mutations are harmful rather than adaptive though.

[Abdul Alhazred]

I know a flying saucer contactee who says it's a conspiracy by Big Pharma.

[ed]

aren't errors in dna replication the basis for evolution?

Yes. Among other things. More mutations are harmful rather than adaptive though.

Which is why evolution is a slow process.

[Pyrrho]

May all your transcriptions be accurate.

[sparks]

Actually, I'd like to tweak a few of mine. Problem is, I don't have any good words to use on 'em like our POTUS, teh Orange Fucktard. And since Evolution is nothing but a conspiracy being played on us by a bunch of chimps, fuck it!

Science? I don't need to know how to splice no stinkin' genes! (If someone would just set me up with the appropriately programmed virus-as-delivery-system, however, that'd be great!)

Name's Bourne. sparky Bourne.

[Grammatron]

Well, actually, this doesn't even cover heart disease, emphysema and so on. Still plenty of reasons to "pursue a healthy lifestyle". Besides, this puts the cart before the horse. Science is about the pursuit of truth, not the pursuit of something to motivate people or something to make people feel good or "empowered".

It's been an adage for years that if you eat right, exercise, and get regular check ups at a doctor you can live long enough to die from cancer.