5 ms·

Wouldn't we know this already if populations in sunny areas had less cancer (controlled for genetics)?

by dboreham 4y ago

atwebb 4y ago
Would especially sunny areas not produce people with more cancer (or certain types)?
- kpw94 4y ago
  https://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kuow/files/styles/x_large/public/201407/skin-cancer-by-state.JPG https://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kuow/files/styles/x_... Sunnier areas have less skin cancers, if that's what you were wondering. Now is it because of the Vitamin D, or because of a more systemic application of sunscreen?
  - throw_pm23 4y ago
    ..or something else entirely
  - atwebb 4y ago
    Late reply, I was wondering that but also, at least in the US, they tend to have older folks and retirees so that it may skew the stats. I really don't have any data on it, just speculating.
francisofascii 4y ago
Maybe. Some studies have shown people in sunnier areas have less risk of certain types of cancer.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
vharuck 4y ago
It'd be hard to control for everything relevant. Diet would be indirectly affected by sunlight (sunny areas would naturally have different crops). Amount of exercise, too. Genetics play a large role in some cancers, but behaviors and choices are strongly linked to many common cancers like lung or colorectal. Breast cancer has been linked to a woman's history of pregnancy (higher risk for those who were pregnant when very young or never had been pregnant past middle age). mini-rant Even if we could design an experiment to know how much sunlight affects cancer mortality, it might not be worth the time and money. We already know ways to reduce cancer incidence in a population: less tobacco, less alcohol, less obesity, more exercise, sunscreen if you have light skin. We could further reduce cancer mortality by getting people to follow screening guidelines. We've reached a point where public policy and outreach are the most valuable efforts to preventing cancer incidence and mortality. Quitting bad habits is hard. Going to the doctor for screening can be scary, expensive, or logistically difficult. /mini-rant

Wouldn't we know this already if populations in sunny areas had less cancer (controlled for genetics)?

atwebb 4y ago

Would especially sunny areas not produce people with more cancer (or certain types)?

kpw94 4y ago
https://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kuow/files/styles/x_large/public/201407/skin-cancer-by-state.JPG https://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kuow/files/styles/x_... Sunnier areas have less skin cancers, if that's what you were wondering. Now is it because of the Vitamin D, or because of a more systemic application of sunscreen?
- throw_pm23 4y ago
  ..or something else entirely
- atwebb 4y ago
  Late reply, I was wondering that but also, at least in the US, they tend to have older folks and retirees so that it may skew the stats. I really don't have any data on it, just speculating.

francisofascii 4y ago

Maybe. Some studies have shown people in sunnier areas have less risk of certain types of cancer.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

vharuck 4y ago

It'd be hard to control for everything relevant. Diet would be indirectly affected by sunlight (sunny areas would naturally have different crops). Amount of exercise, too. Genetics play a large role in some cancers, but behaviors and choices are strongly linked to many common cancers like lung or colorectal. Breast cancer has been linked to a woman's history of pregnancy (higher risk for those who were pregnant when very young or never had been pregnant past middle age). mini-rant Even if we could design an experiment to know how much sunlight affects cancer mortality, it might not be worth the time and money. We already know ways to reduce cancer incidence in a population: less tobacco, less alcohol, less obesity, more exercise, sunscreen if you have light skin. We could further reduce cancer mortality by getting people to follow screening guidelines. We've reached a point where public policy and outreach are the most valuable efforts to preventing cancer incidence and mortality. Quitting bad habits is hard. Going to the doctor for screening can be scary, expensive, or logistically difficult. /mini-rant