Comments on: Cancer as a contagious disease http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 27 May 2013 02:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1683240 Cowicide Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1683240 <blockquote>to be specific, HPV is a contagious organism, a virus</blockquote>Er, the V stands for Virus, so not sure that you got "more specific" there. ಠ_ಠ

to be specific, HPV is a contagious organism, a virus

Er, the V stands for Virus, so not sure that you got “more specific” there. ಠ_ಠ

]]> By: elusis http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1683061 elusis Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1683061  And throat cancer, for non-tobacco-users.  And throat cancer, for non-tobacco-users.

]]> By: zeus8marsbar http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1683021 zeus8marsbar Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1683021 Penile cancer is extremely rare. HPV normally presents as genital warts, which is the elephant  in the room in anus,mouth, penis and vagina.Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women after breast cancer hence the focus on HPV vaccines for pre-sexually active women  Penile cancer is extremely rare. HPV normally presents as genital warts, which is the elephant  in the room in anus,mouth, penis and vagina.Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women after breast cancer hence the focus on HPV vaccines for pre-sexually active women 

]]> By: Ito Kagehisa http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682992 Ito Kagehisa Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682992 The USA has never been real shy about propping up the petrodollar, and Hugo Chavez and Saddam Hussein were at one time the two biggest threats to maintaining the US dollar as the world's reserve currency.  The Bush administration apparently noticed this, and when the "revolution" in Venezuela didn't really work out, I doubt they would have shied away from some hare-brained plot involving polonium or whatever. The current threats to the petrodollar are of course Iran and Russia, but China's already halfway done dumping their dollars so it's a moot point anymore.  Chavez's importance has waned and the petrodollar is doomed. It's not unlikely Chavez was purposely exposed to carcinogens by opposing players, but it's also not unlikely he would have developed cancer anyway.  It's not exactly uncommon. The USA has never been real shy about propping up the petrodollar, and Hugo Chavez and Saddam Hussein were at one time the two biggest threats to maintaining the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency.  The Bush administration apparently noticed this, and when the “revolution” in Venezuela didn’t really work out, I doubt they would have shied away from some hare-brained plot involving polonium or whatever.

The current threats to the petrodollar are of course Iran and Russia, but China’s already halfway done dumping their dollars so it’s a moot point anymore.  Chavez’s importance has waned and the petrodollar is doomed.

It’s not unlikely Chavez was purposely exposed to carcinogens by opposing players, but it’s also not unlikely he would have developed cancer anyway.  It’s not exactly uncommon.

]]> By: CLamb http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682937 CLamb Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682937 Other mucous membrane covered organs are susceptible as well.  An infection can induce cancer in male genitals, the mouth, and esophagus. Other mucous membrane covered organs are susceptible as well.  An infection can induce cancer in male genitals, the mouth, and esophagus.

]]> By: peregrinus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682913 peregrinus Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682913 It's genital warts, and there's a fair bit of it about.  Sexual contact is a lovely transmission mechanism for HPV, from HPV's point of view. It’s genital warts, and there’s a fair bit of it about.  Sexual contact is a lovely transmission mechanism for HPV, from HPV’s point of view.

]]> By: AnthonyC http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682914 AnthonyC Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682914 Not blood type AFAIK, but definitely many of the MHC proteins at least (I tested that myself when I worked in an immunology lab, not with HeLa cells but with a related line). It's evolution at it's most basic - freed from the need to identify itself to an immune system, the cells that shed unnecessary proteins will divide faster. Repeat for decades. Not blood type AFAIK, but definitely many of the MHC proteins at least (I tested that myself when I worked in an immunology lab, not with HeLa cells but with a related line). It’s evolution at it’s most basic – freed from the need to identify itself to an immune system, the cells that shed unnecessary proteins will divide faster. Repeat for decades.

]]> By: Jerril http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682905 Jerril Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682905 <blockquote>They lose some of the identifying markers that the immune systems would normally use to detect them as foreign,</blockquote>They loose all parts of blood type? Citation please? I'd like to read more on that. The reason why contagious cancers work in Tasmanian Devils is because the Devils are so highly inbred that any random two Devils have nearly identical immune systems. I don't know about the dog tumour case.

They lose some of the identifying markers that the immune systems would normally use to detect them as foreign,

They loose all parts of blood type? Citation please? I’d like to read more on that.

The reason why contagious cancers work in Tasmanian Devils is because the Devils are so highly inbred that any random two Devils have nearly identical immune systems.

I don’t know about the dog tumour case.

]]> By: Vincent Maldia http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682898 Vincent Maldia Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682898 "A malignant fibrous histiocytoma was contracted from a patient by a surgeon when he injured his hand during an operation." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clonally_transmissible_cancer#Instances_of_transmission_of_human_cancer "No transmissible cancer is known in humans, although there are several documented ways in which cancer cells have been transmitted between people." - http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/news/2010/features/wtx058957.htm I think the article really means "no cancer which regularly is transmitted from one host to another is known in humans" and "but it does happen infrequently as one off accidents" “A malignant fibrous histiocytoma was contracted from a patient by a surgeon when he injured his hand during an operation.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clonally_transmissible_cancer#Instances_of_transmission_of_human_cancer

“No transmissible cancer is known in humans, although there are several documented ways in which cancer cells have been transmitted between people.”

- http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/news/2010/features/wtx058957.htm

I think the article really means “no cancer which regularly is transmitted from one host to another is known in humans” and “but it does happen infrequently as one off accidents”

]]> By: Jerril http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682890 Jerril Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682890  As noted, there's a huge gulf between "An infection that can trigger cancerous reactions" and "cancerous human cells from another human breaking off their original host and implanting themselves in your body". The second is what we're talking about. Humans thankfully don't have that (yet). And yes, it gives me the horrors so bad I suddenly turn into Beeker from the Muppet Show and have a fit of the screaming meemees every time I think about it.  As noted, there’s a huge gulf between “An infection that can trigger cancerous reactions” and “cancerous human cells from another human breaking off their original host and implanting themselves in your body”. The second is what we’re talking about. Humans thankfully don’t have that (yet).

And yes, it gives me the horrors so bad I suddenly turn into Beeker from the Muppet Show and have a fit of the screaming meemees every time I think about it.

]]> By: Vincent Maldia http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682893 Vincent Maldia Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682893 to be specific, HPV is a contagious organism, a virus, that happens to cause cancer. to be specific, HPV is a contagious organism, a virus, that happens to cause cancer.

]]> By: cleek http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682857 cleek Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682857 i'd Like this, because you're right. but the thought of liking a comment that contains the words "penis cancer" makes my legs cross reflexively. i’d Like this, because you’re right. but the thought of liking a comment that contains the words “penis cancer” makes my legs cross reflexively.

]]> By: AnthonyC http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682838 AnthonyC Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682838 Cells that have been grown in the lab for decades change in ways that no natural cancers do. They lose some of the identifying markers that the immune systems would normally use to detect them as foreign, for example, and grow much faster than any naturally occurring cancel. Remember, the immune system always fights cancers. You almost certainly have a few cancerous or precancerous cells in your body here and there throughout your life, but they almost get destroyed. Nevertheless, cancer is a leading cause of death, because the immune system isn't perfect. Cells that have been grown in the lab for decades change in ways that no natural cancers do. They lose some of the identifying markers that the immune systems would normally use to detect them as foreign, for example, and grow much faster than any naturally occurring cancel.

Remember, the immune system always fights cancers. You almost certainly have a few cancerous or precancerous cells in your body here and there throughout your life, but they almost get destroyed. Nevertheless, cancer is a leading cause of death, because the immune system isn’t perfect.

]]> By: Missy http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682835 Missy Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682835 HPV appears in men too, and this is where penis cancer comes from. HPV appears in men too, and this is where penis cancer comes from.

]]> By: mgatch http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682829 mgatch Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682829  HPV can cause genital, anal and throat cancers in males. Pretty rare, and usually associated with compromised immune function; but, no cervix is required.  HPV can cause genital, anal and throat cancers in males. Pretty rare, and usually associated with compromised immune function; but, no cervix is required.

]]> By: zeus8marsbar http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682749 zeus8marsbar Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682749 To contract HPV induced cancer, Chavez would have needed a cervix. I know he was a narcissist and very much up himself, but one thing he could not have posessed was a cervix :) To contract HPV induced cancer, Chavez would have needed a cervix. I know he was a narcissist and very much up himself, but one thing he could not have posessed was a cervix :)

]]> By: peregrinus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682743 peregrinus Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682743 Don't forget Bob Marley's toe.  And the CIA.  They've been doing this <i>for quite some time</i> Don’t forget Bob Marley’s toe.  And the CIA.  They’ve been doing this for quite some time

]]> By: chaopoiesis http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682671 chaopoiesis Tue, 19 Mar 2013 05:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682671 The NY Times obit outed El Pres as a closet cigarette smoker. Of course that has nothing to do with carcinogenesis. The NY Times obit outed El Pres as a closet cigarette smoker. Of course that has nothing to do with carcinogenesis.

]]> By: Jonathan W. Hendry http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682660 Jonathan W. Hendry Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682660 Cancer is a common disease, especially among older people. Chavez' cancer apparently was in his pelvis or nearby. That suggests colon, testicular, or prostate cancer. Frank Zappa died at 52 of prostate cancer, no conspiracy theories required. Also: I'm guessing maybe there's a fair amount of pollution in Latin American cities, which could include carcinogenic particulates. While in the military Chavez could have been exposed to all kinds of nasty weapon-cleaning fluids and whatnot. It's cancer. Lots of people get it. It's not exactly a rare polonium isotope. Cancer is a common disease, especially among older people. Chavez’ cancer apparently was in his pelvis or nearby. That suggests colon, testicular, or prostate cancer. Frank Zappa died at 52 of prostate cancer, no conspiracy theories required.

Also: I’m guessing maybe there’s a fair amount of pollution in Latin American cities, which could include carcinogenic particulates. While in the military Chavez could have been exposed to all kinds of nasty weapon-cleaning fluids and whatnot.

It’s cancer. Lots of people get it. It’s not exactly a rare polonium isotope.

]]> By: Jonathan W. Hendry http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682658 Jonathan W. Hendry Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682658 Cultures in test tubes don't have immune systems. People do, and foreign cells are not tolerated very well. Cultures in test tubes don’t have immune systems. People do, and foreign cells are not tolerated very well.

]]> By: Jonathan W. Hendry http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682657 Jonathan W. Hendry Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682657 They'd be rejected by the immune system, just like if you tried to transplant Henrietta Lacks' kidney into someone without providing immuno-suppressant meds. They’d be rejected by the immune system, just like if you tried to transplant Henrietta Lacks’ kidney into someone without providing immuno-suppressant meds.

]]> By: redesigned http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682625 redesigned Tue, 19 Mar 2013 03:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682625 If you want to read an interesting book on contagious cancers in humans that will really make you think, check out the book Dr. Mary's Monkey.  It is a gem of a conspiracy theory book and frighteningly plausible. :-) If you want to read an interesting book on contagious cancers in humans that will really make you think, check out the book Dr. Mary’s Monkey.  It is a gem of a conspiracy theory book and frighteningly plausible. :-)

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682576 Preston Sturges Tue, 19 Mar 2013 01:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682576 The dog and tasmanian devil cancers are actual tumor clones whose cells can directly colonize new hosts. I believe scientists were looking for a canine virus when they discovered the tumors were clones.  Transmission is by sex or bites - the devils bite each like crazy. The dog and tasmanian devil cancers are actual tumor clones whose cells can directly colonize new hosts. I believe scientists were looking for a canine virus when they discovered the tumors were clones.  Transmission is by sex or bites – the devils bite each like crazy.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682560 Antinous / Moderator Tue, 19 Mar 2013 01:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682560 Chavez wasn't important enough to be the target of a plot like that. Chavez wasn’t important enough to be the target of a plot like that.

]]> By: DeanCutlet http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682548 DeanCutlet Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682548 This is my theory too. HeLa cells are are so vibrant they contaminate other supposedly isolated cultures (source.. NPR.. or somewhere). Since HeLa is used everywhere for medical experimentation, it isn't a stretch to think that HeLa has infected living cultures (our own bodies) too. Has anyone found a genetic match to HeLa to prevalent cancers found in the US population? That would be an test worth doing. This is my theory too. HeLa cells are are so vibrant they contaminate other supposedly isolated cultures (source.. NPR.. or somewhere). Since HeLa is used everywhere for medical experimentation, it isn’t a stretch to think that HeLa has infected living cultures (our own bodies) too.

Has anyone found a genetic match to HeLa to prevalent cancers found in the US population? That would be an test worth doing.

]]> By: liquidstar http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682545 liquidstar Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682545  I have to admit to wondering if Chavez was made ill.   I didn't even know that he claimed this; and given the political situation, it is plausible.  There are historical precedents for (the CIA) being allowed to 'maybe' kill national leaders (as well as other diplomats and key political people).  Basically, they are exposed in a way that only has a possibility of killing them, such as that provided by a radioactive substance.  If they die, bonus.  If not, laws against deliberate assassinations are upheld.  Of course this was during the relatively honest, moral climate of the cold war.  I have to admit to wondering if Chavez was made ill.   I didn’t even know that he claimed this; and given the political situation, it is plausible.  There are historical precedents for (the CIA) being allowed to ‘maybe’ kill national leaders (as well as other diplomats and key political people).  Basically, they are exposed in a way that only has a possibility of killing them, such as that provided by a radioactive substance.  If they die, bonus.  If not, laws against deliberate assassinations are upheld.  Of course this was during the relatively honest, moral climate of the cold war.

]]> By: stevecaplan http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682537 stevecaplan Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682537 As a physician and dermatologist, I can easily name two forms of infectious cancer:  human papilloma virus (strains of which are causative of squamous cell carcinoma) and merkle cell virus, recently (over the past few years) shown to be causative of merkle cell carcinoma, a very deadly form of skin cancer. As a physician and dermatologist, I can easily name two forms of infectious cancer:  human papilloma virus (strains of which are causative of squamous cell carcinoma) and merkle cell virus, recently (over the past few years) shown to be causative of merkle cell carcinoma, a very deadly form of skin cancer.

]]> By: millie fink http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682527 millie fink Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682527 I've been waiting to hear the results of Arafat's exhumation. There certainly are ways to induce cancer in humans, if not to directly transmit it. I wonder which exactly Chavez said. I’ve been waiting to hear the results of Arafat’s exhumation. There certainly are ways to induce cancer in humans, if not to directly transmit it. I wonder which exactly Chavez said.

]]> By: Dan Hibiki http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682522 Dan Hibiki Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682522 such a thing does indeed exist, but thankfully only in animals... for now: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasitic_cancer such a thing does indeed exist, but thankfully only in animals… for now:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasitic_cancer

]]> By: fuzzyfuzzyfungus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/18/cancer-as-a-contagious-disease.html#comment-1682517 fuzzyfuzzyfungus Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219541#comment-1682517 You can't be El Presidente without the Cigar. That's the problem. You can’t be El Presidente without the Cigar. That’s the problem.

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