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CANCER RISK IN YOUR FRY-UP

Great British fry-up

Tuesday August 26,2008

By Jo Willey

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(18)

PEOPLE who tuck into a fry-up for breakfast are in much greater danger of developing cancer, researchers warned last night.

The traditional dish enjoyed by millions raises the risk of bowel cancer by 63 per cent if it is eaten every day.

The dramatic warning was issued by doctors at the World Cancer Research Fund after a new study. They believe that eating processed meats like sausages and bacon significantly increases people’s risk.

The huge amount of calories can also lead to obesity, which is linked to many different types of cancer. The doctors said the typical English breakfast of fried eggs, sausages, bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes can contain 700 calories.

Adding in extras such as black pudding and fried bread pushes the calorie content even higher, while saturated fat is also known to contribute to the risk of heart disease.

The research fund said there is convincing scientific evidence that excess body fat is linked to six different forms of cancer, including bowel cancer and breast cancer. Experts now believe that, after not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight is the most important thing people can do to prevent them developing the disease.

The fund warned that eating 150g of processed meat a day – the equivalent of about two sausages and three rashers of bacon –increases bowel cancer risk by 63 per cent.

The evidence that processed meat is a cause of bowel cancer is so strong that people should avoid eating it, said the charity.

Professor Martin Wiseman, medical and scientific adviser for the fund, said: “For some people, having a fry-up might seem like a good way to start the day.

“But if you are doing this regularly then you are significantly increasing your risk of bowel cancer, which is one of the most common cancers.

“Only a third of people are aware of the link between processed meat and cancer, which means two-thirds are not in a position to make an informed choice about how much of it they eat.

“This is not a question of all or nothing because the more processed meat you eat, the greater your risk. For example, if you eat 150g of it a day then you will be increasing your bowel cancer risk by about two-thirds.

“But if you only eat 50g a day – roughly the equivalent of a sausage – then you will be increasing your risk by about a fifth.

“As well as the processed meat increasing the risk of bowel cancer, fry-ups also tend to be high in calories.

“We recommend people limit consumption of high-calorie or energy-dense foods because eating them regularly makes you more likely to gain weight. This is important because there is convincing evidence that excess body fat increases risk of six different types of cancer.”

Prof Wiseman said scientists estimate that about a third of cancers could be prevented by eating healthily, taking regular exercise and staying a healthy weight.

Bowel cancer is the second biggest killer cancer after lung cancer, with one in 18 men being diagnosed with it and one in 20 women. Half of those diagnosed – 50 people a day – will die.

Cancer Research UK’s director of health information Sara Hiom said: “Studies like this look at the dietary habits of large numbers of people, so they tell us about the population as a whole.

“This makes it difficult to predict the risk to an individual, but if anyone is looking to reduce their risk of bowel cancer, moderating the red and processed meat they eat is a good way to start.

“It’s also important to remember that many other parts of your diet and wider lifestyle can affect the risk of bowel cancer – along with the genes you inherit.”

If you are doing this regularly then you are significantly increasing your risk of bowel cancer

Professor Martin Wiseman

NAH NOT REALLY LIBLABCON...

26.08.08, 7:36pm

Just displaying a bit of dry humour......just getting fed up with EVERYONE telling us what to do and eat...!!! If its not 'Big Brother' its the so called 'Experts*.....
Oh by the way I take offence to being called a 'troll'.....or a far right one at that......My political stance is......I dont believe any of them are any good, all the parties promise this and that then when they are elected they have amnesia..funny that aint it?....could be due to having too many full english breakfasts..

• Posted by: cocklesandeels • Report Comment

NONSENSE STORY

26.08.08, 6:29pm

It must be a slow news day. If you eat a fry-up "daily" (as the article says) then I'd say cancer would be the last of your worries. Heart disease would be a pretty big worry.

Cocklesandeels, you have to be some sort of satirical take on the typical loony right internet troll. Do you really believe that this "story" has political ramifications?

• Posted by: LibLabConspiracy • Report Comment

I DO WISH THEY WOULD MAKE THEIR MINDS UP

26.08.08, 4:17pm

We are overloaded with 'experts' who will have us all in our graves not with what we are eating but worrying about it, can' t help wondering how civilation has survived so long with these darned 'experts' they all come up with one size fits all,not a lot left to eat that will not do us any harm, you can bet your bottom dollar some bright spark will come up with more expert advice
It was only a week or two ago we were being told that the old 'greasy spoon' was good for us for breakfast as it got the metabolism working and helped with weight control,now its killing us off ,ah well ,back to the meusli,all we need now is the 'elf and safety' brigaded getting in on it. Oh, no.........will the meusli choke us?

• Posted by: Maggie • Report Comment

RUBBISH ! - MAKING A NAME FOR YOURSELF IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

26.08.08, 2:29pm

This is all a part of the advertisement scam being run by sales motivated people. Some researcher is hired to put out a story about a competitors product so that companies can cash in and sell theirs. This is aimed at women who have an instinct to protect their loved ones and no one should take notice of it. There are so many experts on hand and for hire that it is obvious they will say anything to make money. Some comments have already been posted referring to this, if it were true I would have been dead by now because I have been eating such food for many years. It is a demonstration of the power of advertising not a warning of any substance.

• Posted by: albertthedog • Report Comment

CANCER RISK!

26.08.08, 12:52pm

What a load of cobblers! I gave up smoking about 20 years ago and have eaten whatever I like ever since! Sorry! One exception, salted peanuts, which, I was informed, at about the same time, would give me cancer of the liver!!!

• Posted by: RichardMac • Report Comment