Swimming Pools and BC

Claire, the following is not about you in any way. It is for those who never stop looking over their shoulders and kicking themselves after the fact.

Out of curiosity, I googled "causes cancer" (with the quote marks--that keeps the words together).

There are far too many theories to count, but just on the first couple of pages are:
1. Milk
2. Oral sex
3. Cell phones
4. Fluoridated water
5. Sunscreen (!)
6. "cancer is a biologically-induced spore (fungus) transformation disease"
7. Yeast
8. Aspertame
9. Cocaine and marijuana
10. "gender equality in a household" (women having children later in life)

We all swam in pools. Everyone here has cancer. Ah, the missing link.

For those who confuse correlation with causation it does make sense. I'll bet we all eat carrots too. Another missing link?

Here's a link that speculates frequent flying causes cancer .

Did you know Soy damages your thyroid, immune system, DNA and chromosomes, and causes cancer?

Let's not live our lives in fear and apprehension. If you want to go for a swim, go for a swim. Don't do stupid things that we *know* contribute to cancer like smoking, bathing in radioactive waste, or microwaving our hair dry every morning, but to start questioning our everyday activities isn't exactly productive. Are you going to live in a bunker? (Which, incidentally, causes cancer due to increased radon levels ).

Yes, I've been in many swimming pools. Everyone I know has been in many swimming pools. Very few of them have cancer.

If it makes you feel better to avoid them, please do. But unless you can find some real evidence that they post a danger, it's no better than carrying a rabbit's foot.

However, if you're the sort who would prefer to worry over every aspect of life, here are 1233 Known Causes of Cancer .

Oops, forgot to mention Calorie Retention . And what cancer-causing list would be complete without tea and red wine?

Your mileage, as always, may vary.

By the way, I'm leaving tomorrow for ten days and won't be able to post. And yes, I plan on doing plenty of swimming.

And drinking red wine.

Best wishes,

Zach

Final panic-inducing cancer-causing product, this courtesy of the New York Times: Coffee .

Now that is very sad news.

HI
I think we all look for a possible cause like many others I have never smoked never been exposed to chemical s and am young(ish) and female my risk should be almost non existent but here I am.I did swim for my county until I was 14 and spent many hours training so this could be the answer.
Love Claire x

Pat,

I think that the point is, how much of the pool water is being drunk! (Is that correct grammar?) As hot as it can be in NC, the swimming pool is the best place to be in the summertime. There is no telling how much chlorinated water has passed through me!

Wish I were there right now....

Regards,
Rosemary

I'd be more concerned about whats in my drinking water! Never heard that one...Pat

I must say that I have wondered this same thing myself. I never smoked, but, spent many of the golden, halcyon days of my childhood in the Olympic sized swimming pool at the Marine Base that was my home. I'm talking many, many golden days in the swimming pool.

Good question, and one that I muddle over.

Regards,
Rosemary

I've read that swimming pool chemicals are linked to bladder cancer, but when I ask my mother's urologist if it's safe for her he assures me it is. I'm curious to know others thoughts/experiences on the subject.