Transcript , part 3

Bacon and cancer
Oct 25, 2015:
World Health Organization
Says Processed Meat Causes
Cancer
So we must stop eating processed
meat, such as bacon or
sausages?
What WHO actually said:
IARC has classified processed
meat as carcinogenic to humans,
particularly leading to colorectal
cancer
Hazard and risk
WHO assesses the hazard of
carcinogens.
Other Type 1 carcinogens:
Tobacco, asbestos, plutonium,
diesel engine exhaust
What is the risk of eating bacon
for breakfast?
Relative risk increases by 18% for
those eating 50g of processed
meat per day
Link
Does it matter how you
cook your hot dog?
High temperature cooking, such
as grilling and pan frying, create
heterocyclic animes (HCAs)
These can damage genes, leading
to higher risk for colorectal cancer
To avoid HCAs when grilling:
• oil the grill
• clean the grill after cooking
• precook
• stick to fish
Estrogen treatment
In the 90’s, several large
observational studies indicated
strong benefits of estrogen
treatment for menopausal women
45% reduction in CHD
Relative risk of breast cancer in
long term hormone treatment (10
yrs) 1.2
Women’s health
initiative
Randomized clinical trial was
intended to go for 10 years
Had to be stopped after 5 years
because of significant increase in
breast cancer among those
assigned estrogen treatment
No significant effect on heart
disease
Menopausal hormone therapy
has a complex pattern of risks
and benefits. Findings from
the intervention and extended
postintervention follow-up of
the WHI hormone therapy
trials do not support use of
this therapy for chronic
disease prevention, although
it is appropriate for symptom
management in some women