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Shocking Cancer Society Ad Criticized for Lack of Evidence

The American Cancer Society, partnering with sunscreen maker Neutrogena, has decided to take a shock-and-fear approach in their latest cancer prevention campaign.

In the ad, a young woman holds a photograph of a smiling blonde, with the accompanying headline, "My sister accidentally killed herself. She died of skin cancer." It warns readers that "left unchecked, skin cancer can be fatal," and to "use sunscreens, cover up and watch for skin changes."

Some public-health doctors are responding with sharp criticism, pointing out there is no clear evidence supporting the link between sun exposure and death from skin cancer.

According to Dr. Barry Kramer, associate director for disease prevention at the National Institutes of Health, "There‘s very little evidence that sunscreens protect you against melanoma, yet you often hear that as the dominant message."

Dr. Lisa Schwartz added, in reference to Neutrogena’s financial support of the campaign, "When people see an American Cancer Society PSA they expect it to reflect the best evidence. We don‘t want people who have a financial interest to be telling you the benefit of doing something."

The New York Times July 10, 2007



Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Here we have yet another MAJOR scam or complete lack of understanding about the true cause of disease which results in massive misinformation that confuses people and worsens their health by depriving them of one of the most important vitamins known to man.

The American Cancer Society has once again continued to promote fantasy rather than facts in their latest anti-sun ad campaign. The link between sun exposure and skin cancer is vastly overblown, and there is little, if any, evidence that sunscreens actually protect you against melanoma.

In addition to that, skin cancer is rarely life-threatening. It represents only 2 percent of all cancer deaths. Most skin cancer deaths are from melanoma, which in turn makes up only 6 percent of all skin-cancer cases. 

It’s even been shown that people who had lots of sun exposure prior to their diagnosis of melanoma had much higher survival rates than those with limited prior sun exposure.

It’s not hard to see why these ads are being shown, considering that they are being funded by sunscreen maker Neutrogena (something that goes unmentioned in the ads themselves), which stands to benefit financially from the message.

But if the sun is not the main cause behind the deadly form of melanoma, what is?

The answer is: it's your omega 6:3 oil ratio. To quote from the journal Cancer Research: "Epidemiological, experimental, and mechanistic data implicate omega-6 fat as stimulators and long-chain omega-3 fats as inhibitors of development and progression of a range of human cancers, including melanoma."

In 2001, the prestigious National Academy of Sciences published a comprehensive review showing that the omega 6:3 ratio was the key to preventing skin cancer development. And an Australian study done about 15 years ago showed a 40 percent reduction in melanoma for those who ate omega-3 rich fish.

Do exercise caution when in the sun; sunburns can be dangerous. At the beginning of the season go out gradually, perhaps as little as ten minutes a day. Progressively increase your time in the sun so that in a few weeks, you will be able to have normal sun exposure with little risk of skin cancer. Just remember never to get burned, which is the key to safe sun exposure.

Remember also never to use sunscreen, as the chemicals in products are themselves a potential cause of cancer. Instead, creatively use your clothing to block the sun’s rays during your build-up time.


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Comment on This Article Community Comments (23)
 
 
Posted On Jul 10, 2007
The ACS, just like the american heart association, american diabetes association, american dietetic association, and all the other corporate prostitutes are some of the lowest forms of life there will ever be. They take our money and give us nothing but disease in return. Please do not support any of them. Do not support the "pink ribbon" this upcoming October. Check out www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org to learn about the startup of this scam by Estee Lauder, if you have not learned of it already. The parabens and pthalates in their petrochemical concoctions are strongly linked to the disease they pretend to be against.
Then Breast cancer awareness month which was created by Astra-Zeneca, makers of tamoxifen, in 1985 which then was owned by Imperial Chemical Industries is a huge scam as well. These companies make fungicides, pesticides, herbicides, and plastics which are strongly linked to these diseases. They pollute the environment and cause disease and create these fake organizations to rob us of our money. The more you understand how it works the more sickening it gets. Are they born without souls or do they lose them along the way with the help of greed?

 
phooey
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 2/2007
phooey  
Replied

BigEdd
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2007
BigEdd  
 
Posted On Jul 12, 2007
Phooey,

Do you realize how right you are, especially when you say, "These companies make fungicides, pesticides, herbicides, and plastics which are strongly linked to these diseases."?

Instead of them trying to find out why we get sick, they are profitting off our sickness.  In the meantime, diseases such as diabetes and autism, as well as others, continue to escalate and poison our gene pool.

Should the death penalty apply when these scoundrels get caught?


phooey
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 2/2007
phooey  
 
Posted On Jul 12, 2007
BigEdd,
I can not even think of a punishment for this. To me, this is the absolute lowest one can go.

 
 
 
Posted On Jul 10, 2007
Having read this article, I found it to be contradictive.  Each  comment from the doctors were opposite with each sentence.  For e.g.  skin cancer is not a serious illness, ON THE OTHER HAND, in the same breath,  avoiding the sun at a early stage in life may avoid skin cansor which is serious.

Well, don,t you think this could be DOUBLE TALK?????????


 
annapavlova42
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 2/2007
annapavlova42  
 
 
 
Posted On Jul 12, 2007
I actually saw this ad in a Canadian magazine of sorts and pointed out the absurdity of it to a friend (he didn't quite get it or at least isn't as passionate about these things as I). However, I was absolutley digusted by it. Now if a naturopathic individual or health guru made a statement like this they would horrifically shot down by the FDA and possibly imprisoned....unfortunatley the masses don't seem to recognize this as they're slowly brainwashed into a certain school of thought. What a shame.

 
The Health Minister
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 11/2006
The Health Minister  
 
 
 
Posted On Jul 28, 2007

I'm very grateful to Dr. Mercola for pointing me on the right path.

With my Irish ancestry I'd come to shun the sun in recent years but thanks to Mercola.com I've changed my entire approach - and background reading elsewhere only confirms the false hold that the dermatolgists' position has on public policy.

The result is I now seek out the sun every day. Of course I still respect my genetic heritage and the limitations it imposes but the results have been remarkable. My mood and self-image have improved immeasurably and I know in my heart of hearts that I am healthier, calmer and more relaxed.

I'd always wondered why 20 cigarettes-a-day were so much more lethal in Glasgow or Dublin when compared to Athens (Greece) or Rome - or indeed why multiple sclerosis and heart disease is so much more prevalent in areas with little sun. The Irish suffer some of the highest rates in the world. Yes the diet does make a difference... but not that much. The fact is that Greeks and Romans are not suffering from critically-low levels of (protective) Vitamin D from January to June. I can't find the article now but it stated that c. 3000 fatal cancers are caused by sunshine annually in UK BUT 16,000 CASES ARE PREVENTED BY SUNSHINE. That's good enough for me. It's 11 am and a lovely day here in Italy so I'm off to the beach now! :-P


 
bagarino
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 1/2007
bagarino  
Replied

bagarino
Novice User Novice User Joined On 1/2007
bagarino  
 
Posted On Jul 29, 2007

More proof if proof were needed:

news.bbc.co.uk/.../6906712.stm

Sunshine 'protective' against MS

People who spend more time in the sun as children subsequently have a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), a US study shows.


 
 
 
Posted On Jul 10, 2007
What suprises me is that I am not suprised at the behavior of the ACS and its commercial benefactor in this instance.

Mary

 
mmc88121
Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 11/2006
mmc88121  
 
 
 
 
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