Yikes, Put Down that Cell Phone...

[Guest guest]

While you are worrying about a Billroth II and stomach cancer...

A lawsuit filed this week alleges that cell phones can trigger brain

cancer-- a frightening suggestion for the more than 100 million Americans

who use their wireless phone handsets everyday. But does scientific evidence

support the suit's accusation?

So far, studies in humans and animals have found no evidence linking the

radiation emitted by cell phones to the development of brain tumors.

" We've got a fair amount of evidence, and it doesn't point to a hazard, "

says Moulder, a radiation biologist at the Medical College of

Wisconsin.

But the studies have failed to put the issue to rest.

Some researchers say the findings raise enough questions to merit further

investigation. The Food and Drug Administration, which regulates devices

that emit radiation, says it cannot rule out any harm even though evidence

shows no risk.

" That's not very comforting, " Joanne Suder, attorney for a land

neurologist who on Tuesday filed suit against some wireless communications

companies, told techtv News.

Newman, 41, is claiming the companies' products were responsible for

his malignant brain tumor. The suit, which asks for $800 million, says the

companies failed to inform the public of the dangers posed by radiation

emitted by all mobile phones.

" My client is totally disabled, " Suder said of Newman. " He's got five kids

and a wife, and he really wants people to know about the risks of using

these phones. "

Newman's brain tumor was discovered behind his right ear in March 1998.

According to Suder, Newman's doctors say that's just the spot one would

expect to find a tumor brought on by frequent use of a mobile phone.

Brain cancer strikes about six in every 100,000 people in the United States

each year. Human studies have shown no significantly higher rates of brain

cancer among cell phone users, although one did find that tumors appeared

more often on the same side of the head where the phone was used.

Suder says her client hopes the lawsuit will prompt the FDA to mandate that

all cases of cell phone users who develop brain tumors be reported to the

agency. This information, she says, could help scientists conduct long-term,

wide-scale studies on the effects of mobile phone use-- which is currently

lacking.

Lending credence to Suder's argument is a 1994 study on rats that showed

breaks in DNA, a possible sign of future cancer, after the animals were

exposed to radiation.

But radiation biologist Mulder says scientists have never been able to

replicate the results of those tests.

The FDA is now taking the matter into its own hands.

The agency-- with funding from the cell phone industry-- is planning new

studies. However, those results are not due for three to five years.

The debate started in 1993 when a Florida man alleged cell-phone use caused

his wife's brain tumor. Since then, scientists have studied the effects of

cell phone radiation on animals and looked at brain-tumor rates in people

who used cell phones.

Previous lawsuits alleging a connection between cell-phone use and cancer

have been withdrawn by the plaintiffs or dismissed by the courts.

RR

Rutledge, M.D., F.A.C.S.

The Center for Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery

4301 Ben lin Blvd.

Durham, N.C. 27704

Telephone #:

Fax #:

Email: DrR@...

************************************************

Please Visit our Web site: http://clos.net

************************************************

Please join the

Mini-Gastric Bypass Community at

http://www.egroups.com/group/MiniGastricBypass

Get the

Mini-Gastric Bypass

Patient Education Manual

( http://www.clos.net/get_patient_manual.htm )

Re: Digest Number 2238

>

>

> Happy smiles here Trudy, thank you for making me chuckle. I am one

those

> original post ops from December of 98. I often sit and read what you

guys

> talk about but rather than constantly make remarks would rather see you

all

> research and gain the information on your own. The whole reason being

you

> must be informed going into this process because it is a lifestyle

change.

> There are many of us out here that feel this way. This process is not

an

> easy one and should not be. This decision is going to change your life

> forever. (Not that I am partial but very POSITIVE I must add).

> Know that once you loose hundred or more pounds (216 for me) that you

have so

> much energy you dont sit in front of the computer either. Trudy, you

can

> always ask any of us questions, just dont be surprised if we only point

you

> in the direction versus telling you the answer. Keep happy positive

thoughts!

>

>

> Original weight 419...

> Today ... 194

>

> Ask me .. am I happy and more than anything... HOW DO I FEEL!

>

>