Colds 'may trigger child cancers'

12 December 2005

Scientists have found further compelling evidence infections such as colds may trigger childhood cancers.

The University of Newcastle-led team looked at 3,000 childhood cancers in 0 to 14-year-olds from 1954 to 1998, the European Journal of Cancer reported.

Researchers found unusual clusters of brain tumours and leukaemia which were typical of infection-related disease.

But children would need genetic factors to make them susceptible, they added. Experts said more evidence was needed.

The team found a pattern emerged where by the types of cancer repeatedly occurred at similar times and geographical locations, known as "space-time clustering".

Disease caused by more constant environmental factors produce clusters of cases in one place over a much longer period of time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4521024.stm

Has there been a rise, or is it the same?

We did have colds back then, too.

Perhaps it's lower immunity that sets a body up for what actually "triggers" Cancer.

Colds trigger cancer? What an odd way to put it. But then, no one would be responsible for causing cancer, it would just be "natures way." Another nice theory to drag into a courtroom when a variety of industries get sued.

I'm very suspicious of articles like that one. Please, someone with knowledge about such things and not employed by Dow, knock some sense into me.

or strep or diarrhea and didn't live to get the later cancer.

longer.

So that wouldn't fit into the theory because infections that may have grown from a cold were treatable then.

If you're talking diarrhea aren't you speaking of the flu?

.. because IMHO, way, way, way more maladies that afflict the human body are tied to malfunction of the immune system than is currently acknowledged. I say this not as a doctor, but as an average dumbass who reads :)

I can well imagine the "after effects" of the revving up of the immune system to play a role. Weakened by fighting a virus. Overhyped and attacking the wrong things.

Many also think that type I diabetes (juvenile) is generally triggered by a viral illness. Of course, if you have the genetics, it is only a matter of timing as to when you get triggered.

affect the immune system adversly.

But that neon-green, red and purple stuff--yeesh.

Some cold remedies would also suppress the immune system. that's how allergy medication works, isn't it? Suppressing the immune response?

It's a very specific immune response that they key on, and not the entire immune system, but it still is a natural defense that is being countered by them in the interest of treating the symptoms.