21st Century Radio News What Is the Connection?
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Perhaps the very title of this article is puzzling to many readers.
What does the question even mean, many may wonder. “What
connection between human sexual functioning and cancer?” some may
ask.
In 1999, researchers in the United States reported that between 30-40
percent of American men and women suffered from such severe sexual dysfunction
that they had no sexual life and did not desire one. Are there pathological
physical consequences to this disturbance of a basic biological function
as well as emotional and psychological ones?
Let's look at the American Cancer Society's (ACS) 2003 annual cancer
statistics, which were published in the January/February 2003 issue
of the Society's publication, Ca-A Cancer Journal for Clinicians,
to get a clear picture of cancer incidence and mortality involving the
breast and genital system in men and women.
The ACS estimates that in 2003, there will be about 1,334,100 new cancer
cases in men and women in the United States. The breakdown by gender
is 675,300 new cancer cases among men and 658,800 among women.
The ACS also estimates that there will be 556,500 deaths from cancer
in the United States in 2003, of which 285,900 will occur in men and
270,600 in women.
There will be an estimated 212,600 new cases of breast cancer in 2003
(211,300 in women and 1,300 in men) and 313,600 estimated cases of cancers
of the genital system (229,000 in men; 83,700 in women).
According to the ACS, 39,800 women will die from breast cancer in 2003
(as will 400 men). A total of 56,300 Americans will die from cancer
of the genital system (29,500 men and 26,800 women).
The annual statistics compiled by the ACS reveal two extremely important
facts:
In other words, nearly 40% of all new cancer cases in the United
States in 2003 will involve either the genital system or the breast in American
men and women. And nearly 20% of all cancer deaths will be caused by cancers
of the breast or genital systems.
There is no medical research into why this is happening. To me this is
astounding, and has been for over one quarter of a century.
I first noticed this correlation in 1977 when I worked for the American Cancer
Society on its clinical journal Ca-A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. The
percentage of new cancer cases and cancer deaths from these types of cancer
has held relatively steady over the last 25 years, no matter what statistical
methods the ACS was using at any given time.
I pointed out this statistical finding to fellow editors, physicians, and colleagues
in other departments at the ACS. To my great surprise, I discovered that it
meant little or nothing to them.
At the time, I sent query letters to editors at professional medical publications,
as well as magazines for the public that covered health issues, suggesting that
I write an article on the substantial cancer incidence and mortality from breast
and genital system cancers and the lack of research into this phenomenon. To
my even greater surprise, there was no interest whatsoever in publishing an
article on these statistical correlations and the lack of investigation into
it.
Interestingly, after I would inform the editors of the large percentage of cancers
occurring at these sites, and explain that there was no research into
why this was happening, editor after editor would ask, “Where's
the story?” To which I would reply, “The high rates of new cancer
cases, the high death rates from the cancers, and the lack of investigation
into it — that's the story!”
During the 1980s and 1990s, I continued to attempt to interest editors, to no
avail. Today's journalists show no more interest. In March 2003, I had an opportunity
to discuss this subject with the producer of a major television news show. Even
though this intelligent, savvy producer has had cancer, no interest was expressed
in reporting the statistical facts or investigating the subject more deeply.
Imagine the uproar and outrage if it were discovered that 40% of new cancers
and 20% of cancer deaths each year occurred in the brain or liver or kidneys
but that the reasons for this were not being sought. It would not be tolerated
by the public or the mass media.
But 525,600 new cancers cases and 96,400 cancer deaths in 2003 alone apparently
are not of sufficient interest. Neither is there a desire to explore why there
is a complete lack of investigation into the causes of this phenomenon.
The standard responses that “cancer is not one disease, but hundreds of
diseases” or “the causes of cancer are multifactorial” or even
a blanket response of “there is no connection” do not suffice. Why?
Because no research has been done to support such an “explanation.”
So the question stands, “What is the connection between the development
of, and death from, cancer of the genital system and of the breast in women
and men and present-day human sexual functioning?”
A subsequent article will explore one attempt to answer that question.
© 2003 Journal of The Mindshift Institute
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