NationStates Jolt Archive

So, it seems that cancers related to binge drinking, binge eating, and excessive sunbathing are on the uptick, according to this article, posted online today:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23407652-details/Modern+living+to+blame+for+cancer+epidemic/article.do

Binge drinking, reckless sunbathing and overeating are fuelling a massive rise in cancer, experts warn.

In a shocking report, they have laid bare the deadly consequences of increasingly hedonistic modern lifestyles.


The article continues with a bunch of statistics, which seem to support the conclusion; that is, that voluntary lifestyle choices are pushing up cancer rates.

The silver lining seems to be that at least people are surviving cancer more often, even if more people are affected:

However, mortality rates are declining and the proportion of cancer patients living for more than five years after diagnosis rose from 40 to 50 per cent. The top four types of cancer - breast, lung, bowel and prostate - account for more than half of all cases of the disease.

So, I'm not familiar with the source, and it might be garbage, but if it's correct it seems that we're trending toward more reckless and cancer-causing lifestyles, for whatever reason. I thought I'd ask whether everyone would agree that this is the case - whether it's a fad or will continue, whether you've seen it yourself, and what you make of it in general. Now, I'm not the type who walks around with actuarial papers, paranoid of every risk in life. But this does seem to be a different animal in that the risk is well known, but still culturally expected. I'm not too sure what to think. :confused:

You want to see a rise in risky behavior? Just wait until cures for the various forms of cancer and heart disease are found...finally, I can achieve my dream of wanton hedonism with few or no negative consequences. Thank God for science. :p

You want to see a rise in risky behavior? Just wait until cures for the various forms of cancer and heart disease are found...finally, I can achieve my dream of wanton hedonism with few or no negative consequences. Thank God for science. :p

That's probably true. :p

I have nothing against risky or even suicidal behavior, so long as you don't affect anyone else or have dependent children - I say, go for it. It's when people disregard their responsibilities to family and such that it seems a real shame. And of course overseas the taxpayer has to foot the bill, but that's for them to worry about. :p

I have nothing against risky or even suicidal behavior, so long as you don't affect anyone else or have dependent children - I say, go for it. It's when people disregard their responsibilities to family and such that it seems a real shame. And of course overseas the taxpayer has to foot the bill, but that's for them to worry about. :p

Same here. My philosophy is "what evs, as long as you don't hurt anyone without their consent and you're willing to pay for any externalities."

It's like Libertarianism 2.0.

Same here. My philosophy is "what evs, as long as you don't hurt anyone without their consent and you're willing to pay for any externalities."

It's like Libertarianism 2.0.

Yes. Comically, I know someone who happened to be sitting in the front bench seat of a pickup with two other guys, when the driver, an old friend, decided to commit suicide, taking the truck into a ravine, and rolling it several times. No one was injured. Must've been an interesting conversation afterward. :p

Vice-related Cancers on the Rise: This story wins the "No Shit Sherlock! Award" for the week.

Vice-related Cancers on the Rise: This story wins the "No Shit Sherlock! Award" for the week.

Eh? We all should've instinctively known that mouth and uterine cancers were on the rise? :p Every generation has its vice and virtues - that's nothing new. Culture isn't static, and trends like this come and go.

vice has always been a way of life, and it has always been a barrel of laughs (until it catches up with you, but then i'm going to be long gone by then).

This means nothing... expect that people are living longer.

I say this because the cancer that saw the second highest rise was prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is almost a certainty for men once they reach a certain age.

Give me some stats where age is taken into account and I might reconsider.

This means nothing... expect that people are living longer.

I say this because the cancer that saw the second highest rise was prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is almost a certainty for men once they reach a certain age.

Give me some stats where age is taken into account and I might reconsider.
Yeah, I saw this in the Daily Mail - they gave percentage figures of the increase in cases of specific cancers from 1995 to 2006. Most were under 10%, and considering our aging population I think that can easily be explained without referring to lifestyle changes...

Same here. My philosophy is "what evs, as long as you don't hurt anyone without their consent and you're willing to pay for any externalities."

It's like Libertarianism 2.0.

The Wiccans invented it. "And if it harms none, do what thou wilt." It's a cool philosophy.