Engineering disease

[ICfreely]

In the late 1970’s my mother, a perfectly healthy woman in her early 30’s, was diagnosed with “breast cancer” by a top OBGYN in Iran. The mammogram revealed a dot in her left breast. Suffice to say, it was devastating not only to her but my entire family. My dear father, desperate to do anything in his power to save her from this dreaded “disease”, took her to all the top oncologists in Western Europe and North America. The consensus was to cut/burn/poison (mastectomy/radiation/chemotherapy). We were told that the holy trinity of oncology had worked. It was a miracle. The “cancer” was in remission.

It wasn’t that simple, of course. The specialists had to monitor her “disease” and the administration of continued “strategic doses” of chemotherapy. My poor father spent roughly $1.5 million on plane fare, hotel accommodations and astronomical medical fees (no healthcare insurance). The more chemotherapy she received, the sicker she got. At a certain point she decided not to take the pills anymore. Shortly thereafter her condition dramatically improved. She hid the pills and pretended she was taking them as prescribed. Can you imagine the guilt she must have felt? Her husband was spending top dollar on meds she wasn’t even taking. She felt she had to keep it a secret from everyone because no one in the family would understand (I come from a family of doctors - both sides through blood and marriage). They would all tell her to follow the doctor’s orders. But her body was telling her otherwise.

Long story short, our housekeeper found the stash of meds, a big brouhaha ensued and my mom was back on the meds again. In a year or two the “cancer” was back in full force. Again, the consensus was to cut/burn/poison. Not surprisingly, her condition severely deteriorated. The “cancer” had “metastasized.” She was “terminal.” Seeing as her mother and siblings lived in the States my father decided to leave behind a lucrative business, home and practically all possessions in Tehran and move our family to the City of Angels where she could be surrounded by her loved ones in her dying days. This was at the height of the Iran Contra Affair no less. Good times. She finally succumbed to “cancer” on 7-11-87.

Fast forward to the mid 1990’s. I’m about to graduate high school and have to do the obligatory career counselor meeting thing.

Counselor: What do you see yourself doing for the rest of your life?

Me: I want to become a landscape architect.

Counselor: What?! Are you insane? With your GPA? I highly recommend you become a doctor or lawyer.

Those are the only two logical paths “smart” people pursue after all, right?

Law was out. I despise debates. The whole concept of being able to successfully argue both sides of a case was a huge turn-off. Forget the merits; it’s all about honing your persuasion skills. No thank you! (No offence meant, SCS/fbenario)

Medicine, on the other hand, was slightly more appealing. One of my mom’s dying wishes was for me to become a doctor. Contrary to popular belief, doctors know next to nothing about the medications they prescribe. Pharmaceutical research is where all the action’s at. So I did the pre-med thing with the aspirations of becoming a pharmaceutical researcher and “finding the cure for cancer.” Oh the naivety.

By the second semester of my junior year in college I began to see the medical system for the sham that it was/is. It was a little late in the game to change majors. I considered dropping out but decided against it due to societal pressures. Went through the motions, got my degree and threw it in a closet. It’s an expensive worthless piece of paper as far as I’m concerned.

If you’re a pre-med student with the aspirations of becoming an M.D. and/or Ph.D. you’re constantly worried about three things; GPA, MCAT scores and last but certainly not least professor recommendations. Professor recommendations are key. They can make or break you. Everyone knows it. Seeing as they only give out a handful of recommendations per graduating class student conformity is ensured. You’re so preoccupied with making the grade and making a good impression that you don’t have the time to think let alone learn anything worth knowing. But I digress.

Back to mammograms. They’re not only useless but dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. They’ve been around since 1969. Look into the number of “breast cancer” diagnoses pre/post 1969 and connect the dots folks. It doesn’t take a “genius” to figure it out.

I can back up my stance with detailed sourcing. It’ll take me some time to do so. It’s a sore subject for me and I really don’t look forward to it. I think there are enough critical thinkers in this forum who can pursue this matter if they so choose.



I wish you all a Merry Christmas, happy holidays and a happy New Year.



P.S.

The following article is a good start but you have to go through a lot of weeds to pick out the few flowers.

Experts Now Advise Against Mammograms for Breast Cancer Screening
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/03/03/experts-say-avoid-mammograms.aspx

[patrix]

Dear ICFreely,

Thank you so much for sharing. I come from a family of doctors but chose IT instead. It was something I did partly because I was interested in programming but perhaps most because of lack of interest in formal education. I've had a gut feeling I guess that there's something wrong with the education system, and boy have I had that confirmed recent years.

And I see we share the same sense of humor. Those who know me knows that the "Fungus treatment" (keep 'em in the dark and feed em with shit) joke is one of my favorites.

Merry Christmas ICFreely

Edit: A couple of minutes free from the Christmas preparations

It's heartbreaking to hear about these cancer stories. My hypothesis that I think is supported by Prof. Seyfrieds research and Dr Simoncinis therapies is that cancer is our bodies last line defense against "stuff that grows in us". Call it fungus, bacteria or unknown. And if we just let the cancer do it's job and stop feeding the growing things what they seem to like - carbohydrates, we have a good chance of a complete recovery. And treating the tumours with baking soda seems effective too considering Dr Simoncinis has been deprived of his license and sent to jail for doing just that.

[HonestlyNow]

My hypothesis that I think is supported by Prof. Seyfrieds research and Dr Simoncinis therapies is that cancer is our bodies last line defense against "stuff that grows in us". Call it fungus, bacteria or unknown. And if we just let the cancer do it's job and stop feeding the growing things what they seem to like - carbohydrates, we have a good chance of a complete recovery. And treating the tumours with baking soda seems effective too considering Dr Simoncinis has been deprived of his license and sent to jail for doing just that.

emphasis added
~~~

"To understand cancer, and all other chronic disease, we really just need a firm grasp of the lymphatic system, and the two sides of chemistry, acid and alkaline, and the rest will fall into place."

The Stern Method interview, Fruit, The Lymphatic System, and Cancer: What You Need to Know: Dr. Robert Morse, 88 minutes.

Google search, robert morse cancer the raw truth

[patrix]

My hypothesis that I think is supported by Prof. Seyfrieds research and Dr Simoncinis therapies is that cancer is our bodies last line defense against "stuff that grows in us". Call it fungus, bacteria or unknown. And if we just let the cancer do it's job and stop feeding the growing things what they seem to like - carbohydrates, we have a good chance of a complete recovery. And treating the tumours with baking soda seems effective too considering Dr Simoncinis has been deprived of his license and sent to jail for doing just that.

emphasis added
~~~

"To understand cancer, and all other chronic disease, we really just need a firm grasp of the lymphatic system, and the two sides of chemistry, acid and alkaline, and the rest will fall into place."

The Stern Method interview, Fruit, The Lymphatic System, and Cancer: What You Need to Know: Dr. Robert Morse, 88 minutes.

Google search, robert morse cancer the raw truth

Your passive aggressive doubt seeding is quite entertaining sometimes HN. So your point is that I call it a hypothesis? What would you call that YouTubers speech on the lymphatic system? One could argue that it is even less than a hypothesis since no clear argument is laid out that could be tested through observations or experiments (you know, the only tool we have to actually figure things out). Sigh.

[HonestlyNow]

Your passive aggressive doubt seeding is quite entertaining sometimes HN. So your point is that I call it a hypothesis? What would you call that YouTubers speech on the lymphatic system? One could argue that it is even less than a hypothesis since no clear argument is laid out that could be tested through observations or experiments (you know, the only tool we have to actually figure things out). Sigh.

I offered a different way of looking at the problem, and starting places that you can do your own research and gain understanding of this way of seeing the situation. Dr. Morse has helped tens of thousands leave their debilitating "diseases" behind over the course of forty-plus years of clinical experience. He has clear arguments, and decades of observation and experiments. He's had decades of experience before starting his YouTube channel.

I beg of you to open your mind and do your own research instead of blaming the messenger for bringing to you a paradigm that is different from your perspective of the world.

[ICfreely]

When it comes to “cancer”, half the battle is knowing what not to do. If you know to avoid radiation, chemotherapy and surgery (except under extreme conditions), then you’re two steps ahead of the game.


Acne is something we can all relate to, right? We don’t consider it life threatening. No declaration of War on Acne. No charities. No 10k walkathons. No pink ribbons. No impending doom.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage for Acne

When Dr. Vodder first started treating the lymphatic system he was prompted by the observation of oily congested and acne prone skin in his patients seeking relief from head colds. Concluding that the blockages in the lymph pathways of the head and neck were the culprit of his patient’s symptoms, he began treating the lymph nodes of the neck and face. He envisioned the lymph of the affected areas flowing freely through the lymph nodes, cleansing the interstitial spaces and improving the overall tissue health of the face and neck. By removing built up wastes he not only noticed improvement in his patient’s cold symptoms, but that their skin was clearing up as well. Soon after, Manual Lymphatic Drainage was taught to estheticians around the world and has been used ever since as an effective tool for healing acne and other skin conditions.

Using gentle, rhythmic, circular motions to stretch and release the skin, the lymphatic vessels are gently opened and closed allowing more interstitial fluid to enter the lymphatic system to be cleared away and cleansed through the lymph nodes. Because the initial lymphatic vessels lay very superficially in the skin, the skin is the first tissue to benefit from the decongestive nature of Manual Lymphatic Drainage, making it the perfect manual therapy to treat many skin conditions.

http://www.lymphessential.com/2018/04/17/manual-lymphatic-drainage-acne/

You may find it hard to believe but “cancerous” tumors inside the human body are no different than acne on the surface of the skin. Their presence is a positive sign that the body is detoxifying itself of built up toxins. This process can be accelerated with deep breathing massage therapy, water fasting, dry fasting, juicing and even baking soda if you’re too acidic (you can purchase uric acid urine test strips & aluminum-free baking soda online). Those are just a few examples. Moreover, a self-inventory would be a prudent thing to do. By that I mean, take into consideration your emotional state, what you’re putting into your body and what you’re exposing your body to. What works for one person man not work for another. You have to figure out what works for you.

Interstitial fluid flow in cancer: implications for disease progression and treatment
…
Origins of interstitial flow in cancer

Interstitial fluid refers to the fluid that is found in the stroma of tissue. In healthy tissue, this fluid results from an influx of plasma from the blood vasculature as nutrients and oxygen are transported into the stromal space and from cells as they undergo metabolism.24 The majority of the fluid that leaks from the blood capillaries is reabsorbed by the post-capillary venules, but a fraction of the fluid filters through the interstitium and drains through the lymphatic vasculature downstream, eventually emptying into the venous bloodstream. Under healthy conditions, this system prevents buildup of fluid in the interstitial space. In cancer, the amount of fluid is greatly increased and poorly drained, resulting in an increase of interstitial pressure in the tumor that leads to a steep gradient of pressure between the tumor and the surrounding healthy tissue.10 This gradient results in higher interstitial fluid flow into the healthy tissue and draining lymphatics.
…
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4144982/

Is any of this beginning to make sense?

[patrix]

When it comes to “cancer”, half the battle is knowing what not to do. If you know to avoid radiation, chemotherapy and surgery (except under extreme conditions), then you’re two steps ahead of the game.

I agree. What not to do is the crucial part. Avoid those and also doing a biopsy.

Is any of this beginning to make sense?

Well I don't find it plausible that a clogged, congested lymphatic system in itself can be seen as the root cause of cancer and I would probably not agree that the various herbs and detoxes the promoters of this idea sell, is the solution. However an overtaxed/malfunctioning lymphatic system is certainly a symptom.

And I also don't see how this contradict what I'm saying - That the body for various reasons (for example toxification and malnutrition) is unable to keep unwanted microbe growth at bay.

[ICfreely]

Well I don't find it plausible that a clogged, congested lymphatic system in itself can be seen as the root cause of cancer...

Come on now, patrix. I never said it was the root cause.

...and I would probably not agree that the various herbs and detoxes the promoters of this idea sell, is the solution.

Fair enough. If you don't think herbs will work for you, then avoid them. But if they work for others, then good for them, right?

Allow me to make another analogy. A Google Maps analogy.

Your current location: State of Illness

Your destination: A Healthy State

You can drive, bike, take a bus, take the subway, taxi, Uber, Lyft, walk, use highways, main roads, side streets...

Is there a single "right" way to get to your destination?

[HonestlyNow]

*
The lymphatic system is the sewer system of the body. Blood feeds; lymph cleans. Blood is the kitchen, and lymph, the bathroom. (It has been explained here by Kham, and not sure if anyone else here has, as well.)

Lymph collects the metabolic waste from the 100 trillion cells of the body. This waste is then transported to lymph nodes for some processing (the bacteria will make the acidic waste less acidic) and then out of the body through the kidneys. If the kidneys aren't filtering, then the skin acts as the third kidney, hence, any skin conditions that are witnessed in people.

If the acidic lymph is backed up, the cells that the lymph surrounds are bathed in acid. Acid is corrosive. A cell bathing in a corrosive medium is going to suffer damage. That's how what is called "disease" occurs.

Simple as that.

That's why you want to feed your body alkaline-ash food. You also want to feed your body energetic food. Fresh raw properly-grown picked-ripe fruit fits this bill perfectly.

Well I don't find it plausible that a clogged, congested lymphatic system in itself can be seen as the root cause of cancer and I would probably not agree that the various herbs and detoxes the promoters of this idea sell, is the solution. However an overtaxed/malfunctioning lymphatic system is certainly a symptom.

And I also don't see how this contradict what I'm saying - That the body for various reasons (for example toxification and malnutrition) is unable to keep unwanted microbe growth at bay.

Q. Based on what is written above, what clogs and congests the lymph?
A. Foods that are acid-ash.

Q. Based on what is written above, what is an "overtaxed/malfunctioning lymphatic system" a symptom of?
A. The too much and too often ingestion of acid-ash foods.

P.S. Bacteria is our friend. Each bacteria is attracted to certain culturing mediums. One who harbors the proper culturing medium will attract its corresponding bacteria. Bacteria breaks down the errors of the host.

[ICfreely]

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it."
--George A. Moore


In the late 1950’s my grandmother (father’s side) suddenly fell ill (my grandparents lived in Urmia, Iran at the time). My grandfather took her to all the top medical specialists in Urmia, Hamadan and Tehran (the top three medical hubs in Iran). Based on her signs/symptoms she was diagnosed with rheumatism.

noun: rheumatism

1. any disease marked by inflammation and pain in the joints, muscles, or fibrous tissue, especially rheumatoid arthritis.

Origin

late 17th century: from French rhumatisme, or via Latin from Greek rheumatismos, from rheumatizein ‘to snuffle,’ from rheuma ‘stream’: the disease was originally supposed to be caused by the internal flow of “watery” humors.

Nobody could specifically pinpoint the cause. Anyhow, she was given all sorts of medications. The more medications she took, the sicker she got. Weary and dejected, my grandparents returned to Urmia resigned to the fate that she was “terminal.” There was nothing Iran’s best & brightest medical minds could do to cure her. End of story, right?

Not exactly. One fateful day my grandfather, by happenstance, bumped into an old acquaintance who was the wife of a local healer in the rural outskirts of Urmia. He told her about my grandmother’s situation and how distraught he was about her impending death. The lady offered her husband’s services. Although he didn’t put much stock into the healer’s ability to cure his wife my grandfather begrudgingly accepted the offer.

Upon examination, the healer recommended the course of treatment – mud from Lake Urmia. My grandmother was placed in a bathtub and covered with the mud. Within three days she was completely cured! The healer knew neither what caused my grandmother’s illness nor how/why exactly the mud could cure her. He just knew it works. And it did. My point is, we humans have a tendency to over think things. We get so caught up in specific causes/effects that we needlessly lead ourselves down blind alleys.

The healing properties of Lake Urmia’s mud have been (and continues to be) studied by scientists the world over. Hundreds of published studies can be found on the net.

International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health
Iran's Capabilities in Health Tourism: Mud in Lake Urmia
http://www.ijtmgh.com/article_33243_1dec3919535aa801389ecca03fadc2a9.pdf

Its Great Lake Shriveled, Iran Confronts Crisis of Water Supply
…
Along what used to be a lakeshore boulevard, worn-down snack bars and dressing rooms are testament to the days when people from across Iran would come to water-ski on the lake or cover themselves in its black mud, which is said to have healing powers.
…
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/31/world/middleeast/its-great-lake-shriveled-iran-confronts-crisis-of-water-supply.html

The battle to save Iran's Lake Orumieh
…
Lake Orumieh is not short of minerals either and, like the Dead Sea, its soil, minerals and salts are used to cure various ailments such as rheumatism, and dermatological and stress-related problems.
…
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/sep/08/battle-save-iran-lake-orumieh

With regards to the “battle to save” Lake Urmia, you can find my take on it here:

https://cluesforum.info/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=1788&start=30#p2399555

https://cluesforum.info/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=1788&start=30#p2400053



P.S.

I wonder when the "geniuses" at reddit and quora will get around to "disproving" my body of posts on this thread. Will they pick apart my grammatical errors? Will they resort to tired "vaccine/virus denier" labels? When they get diagnosed with "terminal diseases" will they seek allopathic treatment? The mind wanders.

[sharpstuff]

HonestlyNow on Mon Dec 24, 2018 6:49 pm wrote:

P.S. Bacteria is our friend. Each bacteria is attracted to certain culturing mediums. One who harbors the proper culturing medium will attract its corresponding bacteria. Bacteria breaks down the errors of the host.

Minor grammatical correction: Bacteria are our friends. No fault, no blame.

Well said. However, I dispute the phrase 'attract its corresponding bacteria'. As I have said before, whatever bacteria are (and we can never 'know'), they are created within a living body (flora or fauna) whenever required. They are part and parcel of what we call living organisms. Neither 'Bacteria' (nor 'germs', 'viruses', 'micro-organisms' and all those other non-verifiable entities of imagination) can be extracted from a living body and, however 'studied' outside of it, determine their 'workings' within a body (living or 'dead').

Taking a clock-spring from a mechanical clock and studying it by itself, will never explain how the whole clock works!

We were usually taught that some sort of 'stomach acid' was required to break down the food we eat to 'digest' it (whatever that means) for the purpose of replenishing material required for the body to survive (input/output) and 'junk' the rest. This is patently not the case. Acid is the output from such 'digestion' by the 'bacteria' neutralised by what should be a slightly alkaline environment. It is called 'balance'. Surely, we have all experienced 'excess acid' which can have profound negative 'effects'.

'Acid' and 'alkaline' (for example) may be useful in alchemy but they are part of the seemingly polar world in which we are obliged to live. You know, 'right'/'wrong' and so forth.

The body needs a pretty good (!) input/output for maintaining what we call 'life' which, in my view at least, is a continuous procedure to navigate the environment for continuity in our various locations and situations.

ICfreely on Tue Dec 25, 2018 11:36 pm

Upon examination, the healer recommended the course of treatment – mud from Lake Urmia. My grandmother was placed in a bathtub and covered with the mud. Within three days she was completely cured! The healer knew neither what caused my grandmother’s illness nor how/why exactly the mud could cure her. He just knew it works. And it did. My point is, we humans have a tendency to over think things. We get so caught up in specific causes/effects that we needlessly lead ourselves down blind alleys.

So well said, dear ICFreely. Well said again. Does this surely not have a tremendous impact on what are considered and are labelled 'diseases' or 'conditions'?

[By the way, the lay public are not allowed to use the term 'cured', that must be left to the 'establishment' to determine...you know...'in five years'...'it;s just around the corner', 'scientists' and 'experts' are working on it'...ad nauseum.]

Labelling is useful to some degree but when we attach labels and then assume they have a concrete existence of their own, then we run into very real problems. A great deal of the confrontations we seem to have with other members of this forum (for example) is that 'labels rule' and thus we cannot separate the trees from the forest. Labels need to be precisely defined and that is very difficult when we use labels to describe other labels.

ICC, The healing properties of Lake Urmia’s mud have been (and continues to be) studied by scientists the world over. Hundreds of published studies can be found on the net.

I am sure they can. The 'clays' from almost all countries are available and the past history of their uses is manifold.

What we call 'Nature' provides. Why, one might ask, does a feline eat grass to vomit?

P.S.

I wonder when the "geniuses" at reddit and quora will get around to "disproving" my body of posts on this thread. Will they pick apart my grammatical errors? Will they resort to tired "vaccine/virus denier" labels? When they get diagnosed with "terminal diseases" will they seek allopathic treatment? The mind wanders.

Indeed, the mind wanders and wonders. But who can fault the gullibleati?

I have to say, that working for over twenty years with children who have obviously been damaged by pre-birth ultra-sound, the possibility of being unfoundedly delivered by caesarian section, cord-clamping and or other invasive procedures (the possibility of genital mutilation), stabbing with hypodermic needles (let alone surgical shock and no means to refuse such.

In loco parentis is no excuse because of the lack of data of those who agree without knowledge of the probable dangers) with poisonous materials and having them wait in a line before ('special') school starts (often shaking) whilst the headteacher administers their twice daily concoction of ill-created pharmaceuticals. It is no wonder that I am passionate about what I say and have said regarding 'engineering disease'.

I know this is a bit of a rant but I make no apologies to those who keep dribbling on about 'carbohydrates', 'trans-fats, 'diets', 'calories' (calories are of course a unit of measurement not any sort of substance we can eat, 'burn' or otherwise) and all that other tripe about 'body systems' as though they are separate from a holistic point of view...

Be well.

Always in good faith,
Sharpstuff

[aa5]

The Chinese have a study I have read where they were looking at autism and pre-birth ultrasounds. They took a bunch of women who were going to have abortions anyways. Then did varying numbers of ultra sounds with varying intensities of the devices. They found clear brain damage caused by the devices, at levels of intensities commonly seen in poorly maintained and unregulated ultra sound devices.

In response to the study, the Chinese authorities instituted new regulations for ultra sound machines. Their new regulations established safe levels of device intensity, regulations for the manufacturers, and regulatory enforcement of the proper maintenance and operation of the machines.

The Chinese authorities also did the right thing and informed Western governments about their findings. The Western response has been that 'we already know vaccines don't cause autism, end of story'. The Chinese government was saying, ok, but we did find that ultrasounds are causing brain damage in children. Western governments would have none of it, and in fact were offended that a non-white nation would be giving them advice. So the Chinese said, ok well its your children, and we did our part.

[ICfreely]

The similarities between “War on Cancer” and “War on Terrorism”

-Both wars have been declared by national/international governmental bodies.

-Both “cancer” and “terrorism” are hard to define.

What Is Cancer?

Cancer (CAN-sur): a word used to describe more than 100 diseases in which cells grow out of control; or a tumor with cancer in it

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-basics/what-is-cancer.html

Before the UN fights terrorism, it needs to define it

By Amir Taheri
July 17, 2016
...
For 15 years, the world has tried to agree on a definition of terrorism and failed. The issue has been on the agenda in the G-7 and G-8 summits and at least two summits of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Every year, the United Nations’ General Assembly has grappled with the issue. The issue has also been the bread-and-butter of countless think tanks across the globe, again with no results.
...
https://nypost.com/2016/07/17/before-the-un-fights-terrorism-it-needs-to-define-it/

-Both wars have destructive “solutions.” Countless people have needlessly been killed, injured and displaced as a result of military campaigns dedicated to eradicating “terrorism.” Countless people have needlessly been killed, injured and displaced as a result of medical campaigns dedicated to eradicating “cancer.” Perhaps the “solution” is the desired result? (War of Cancer, War of Terrorism)

-The Mainstream Media constantly fan the flames of both wars.

-There’s no end in sight to either war.

-The population at large live in constant fear of “cancer cells” and “terrorist cells.”

-Well funded bureaucracies are dedicated to isolating and eliminating both of these nepharious/elusive “cells.”

-There are many theories about the origins of "oncoviruses" and "ISIS."


I’ve been thinking along these lines for quite some time now. Haven’t had the time to develop a detailed comparative analysis. I’m just putting it out there as food for thought.


[note to admins: feel free to move this post to derail or chatbox]



P.S.

In response to the study, the Chinese authorities instituted new regulations for ultra sound machines. Their new regulations established safe levels of device intensity, regulations for the manufacturers, and regulatory enforcement of the proper maintenance and operation of the machines.

aa5, would you please specify what these "safe levels" were and whether or not you agree that they are indeed safe (why or why not?). Thanks in advance.

[ICfreely]

Labelling is useful to some degree but when we attach labels and then assume they have a concrete existence of their own, then we run into very real problems. A great deal of the confrontations we seem to have with other members of this forum (for example) is that 'labels rule' and thus we cannot separate the trees from the forest. Labels need to be precisely defined and that is very difficult when we use labels to describe other labels.

I couldn’t agree more, dear sharpstuff. When we discuss what causes “cancer” and what’s the most effective way of treating “cancer” we’ve already bought into the medical establishment’s corporeality of “cancer.” Their premises. Their vague and ever changing definitions. Their vague and ever changing causes (bacteria, fungi, viruses, genetics, etc…). Why should we play by their rules? Perhaps a different approach would be more effective.

Just what exactly is “cancer”?

How exactly is it diagnosed?

Do the diagnostic methods have any merit?

What are the negative “side” effects of said diagnostic methods?

Would we be better off avoiding “cancer” screening altogether?

Could it be that we've medicalized a nonproblem?

Perhaps if we started asking/answering those questions first there'd be less confusion. I’m not sure. What are your thoughts on this? Do you have any suggestions? These are open questions to all CF contributors. C’mon folks help a brother out.

Cancer in the mass print media: Fear, uncertainty and the medical model

Abstract

Cancer is increasing in incidence and prevalence in North America and around the world. The mass print media play an important role in information provision about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this disease, as well as informing health policy and personal experience. This paper reports on a content analysis of the portrayal of cancer in the highest circulating magazines available in Canada and published in Canada or the USA in 1991, 1996, 2001. It includes both manifest and latent analysis of the framing and content of cancer stories. Manifest analysis documented the dominance of the medical as compared to the lifestyle and political economy frames and the predominance of articles on breast as compared to other cancers. Latent themes included: an emphasis on fear of cancer in that: (1) cancer and fear are frequently conflated; cancer is said to grow outside of awareness; cancer is portrayed as (almost) inevitable; cancer is associated with normal experiences; early detection is associated with diagnosis; and scary statistics are emphasized; (2) contradictions and confusion exist within and between articles; and (3) metaphors of war and battle are used frequently. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the linking of fear with cancer in the context of medicine as the solution.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953605006088

[aa5]

I don't know much about ultrasounds, so I can't say what would be a safe levels in pregnancy. I remembered those Chinese studies after Sharpstuff mentioned pre-birth ultrasounds.

After doing a little bit of searching on google, I found these recommendations by a Chinese scientist. The Chinese scientist seems even more concerned about the dangers than I remembered. It sounds like his opinion is no level is completely safe for babies in the first trimester. The recommendations are from a blog at this link;

https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/50-in-utero-human-studies-confirm-risks-prenatal-ultrasound/

Summary of Prenatal Ultrasound Human Studies

In the year 2000, Professor Ruo Feng, of the Institute of Acoustics, Nanjing University, summarized many of the human studies with regard to the devastating effects of prenatal ultrasound, suggesting the five points of protection below. Feng could be considered the world authority in the field of ultrasound, with his PhD in physics from the University of Leningrad in the former Soviet Republic, and his publishing of more than 186 scientific papers.

1.Ultrasound should only be used for specific medical indications.

2.Ultrasound, if used, should strictly adhere to the smallest dose principle, that is, the ultrasonic dose should be limited to that which achieves the necessary diagnostic information under the principle of using intensity as small as possible, the irradiation time as short as possible.

3.Commercial or educational fetal ultrasound imaging should be strictly eliminated. Ultrasound for the identification of fetal sex and fetal entertainment imaging should be strictly eliminated (emphasis added).

4.For the best early pregnancy [1st trimester], avoid ultrasound. If unavoidable, minimize ultrasound. Even later, during the 2nd or 3rd trimester, limit ultrasound to 3 to 5 minutes for sensitive areas, e.g., fetal brain, eyes, spinal cord, heart and other parts.

5.For every physician engaged in clinical ultrasound training, their training should include information on the biological effects of ultrasound and ultrasound diagnostic dose safety knowledge.