MOBILE PHONES CAN CAUSE BRAIN CANCER

This is not a topic to profess ignorance about or say, ‘I did not know’. Just go with the flow and say, ‘Mobile phones can cause brain cancer’. Simply because you don’t want to find out the hard way!

Experts believe there is a strong association with prolonged usage of mobile phones especially people who have been using the phones for over 10 years. The risk is also significant in children with their growing and immature brains.

It had been predicted that the numbers of patients with newly diagnosed brain cancer and other tumours will almost double by the year 2025. Many countries are seeing an increasing incidence of these horrible tumours now and it’s a worrying trend.

Okay, this is not a joke.

Glioblastoma Multiforme

We have and are seeing a rise in the numbers of people suffering from high grade brain cancers. These are the types of cancers that defy cure. These cancers especially the horrible one calledGlioblastoma Multiforme or GBM for short is incurable and kills 100%. This cancer kills the young or the old though it appears more common in patients in their early 60’s. The numbers of sufferers increase with age and it is more common in men.

The risk is real and prevention is the main treatment for cancer. Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the risk of getting cancer. This can include maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking medicines or vaccines that can prevent cancer from developing. Avoiding exposure to known cancer-causing substances such as sugars, cigarette and now mobile phones is vital.

Studies upon studies

Okay, studies are conflicting and contradictory. Some will find a link and others will not. The risk may be tenuous at best but so what. The American Cancer Society Exit Disclaimer (ACS) states that there could be some cancer risk associated with radiofrequency energy, but the evidence is not strong enough to be considered causal and needs to be investigated further.

Brain tumours are particularly difficult to study, for example, because of their high death rate and the short survival of people who develop these tumors. Similarly, patients who survive initial treatment are often impaired, which may affect their responses to questions. Furthermore, for people who have died, next-of-kin are often unable to accurately describe their patterns of phone use to an interviewer.

Prevent cancer

Individuals who are concerned about radiofrequency energy exposure can limit their exposure, by using an ear piece and limiting cell phone use, particularly among children. The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has suggested some steps that concerned cell phone users can take to reduce their exposure to radiofrequency energy:

·        Reserve the use of cell phones for shorter conversations or for times when a landline phone is not available.

·        Use a device with hands-free technology, such as wired headsets, which place more distance between the phone and the head of the user.

Hands-free kits reduce the amount of radiofrequency energy exposure to the head because the antenna, which is the source of energy, is not placed against the head. Exposures decline dramatically when cell phones are used hands-free.

Okay, this is the score

The decision to limit the use of phones and especially to use a hands free device is entirely yours. Mobile phones are a great resource and a necessary evil but you have got to take care. You must take the decision to prevent mobile phone causing you a brain cancer.

Other issues

There is now strong evidence that the rate of fertility is reducing in many communities around the world. The volume and quality of sperms produced by men is reducing and some feel that it may be not unconnected to mobile phones and computers close to the genital areas in men.

Certainly, fertility centres such as Nordica Fertility centre in Abuja have found an increase in the abnormal sperms seen in specimens and a decrease in the motility.