News: Heavy marijuana use linked to bladder cancer

[lemonboy]

Heavy marijuana use linked to bladder cancer

Reuters | February 02 2006

Pot smokers could be putting themselves at risk for developing bladder cancer, according to the results of a study of middle-aged men who were seen at two Veterans Administration facilities.

Marijuana smoking "might be an even more potent stimulant" of malignancy than cigarette smoking, Dr. Martha K. Terris of the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and her colleagues write in the medical journal Urology.

Terris and her team point out that head and neck and lung cancers have been tied to marijuana use, and there is evidence that these marijuana-associated malignancies may strike at an earlier age.

To determine if marijuana use might also be associated with bladder cancer, she and her colleagues evaluated 52 men with the disease who were all younger than 60 years, along with 104 age-matched controls.

Among the men with bladder cancer, 88.5 percent were habitual marijuana smokers, compared with 69.2 percent the controls.

The average quantity of marijuana use also was higher in the men with bladder cancer, the investigators found. The cancer group clocked up an average of 48 joint-years per patient -- i.e., the individuals smoked the equivalent of 1 joints a day for 48 years, or 2 joints a day for 24 years, etc. -- while the comparison group reported an average of 28.5 joint-years.

Tobacco use was also heavy among the study subjects, with more than 90 percent of the men in either group using tobacco, making it impossible to identify any link between cigarettes and cancer risk.

Marijuana could be more cancer-promoting than tobacco, the investigators note, given its longer half-life (up to 60 hours versus 12 hours) and the fact that marijuana is smoked without a filter and held longer in the lungs.

The drug also reduces bladder contractility, the researchers add, which could increase urine retention and thus greater exposure of the bladder to marijuana compounds.

They advise that younger patients with symptoms that might suggest bladder cancer, who aren't usually considered at high risk, "should be questioned about a history of marijuana use." If they answer positively, the researchers conclude, it might be advisable to conduct further tests. ||| (Bold mine)

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Response: It seems like bad science to note the heavy use of tobacco among both focus groups yet fail to consider the possibility of the combination is what is causing the increased percentage of cancer among pot smokers. Heavy tobacco use would account for at least several sessions a day, wouldn't you think? This vs. one/two joints per day? Sounds like they came to the conclusion they wanted and decided they were done playing scientist.

lemonboy Reviewed by lemonboy on 02-03-2006. News: Heavy marijuana use linked to bladder cancer Heavy marijuana use linked to bladder cancer Reuters | February 02 2006 Pot smokers could be putting themselves at risk for developing bladder cancer, according to the results of a study of middle-aged men who were seen at two Veterans Administration facilities. Marijuana smoking "might be an even more potent stimulant" of malignancy than cigarette smoking, Dr. Martha K. Terris of the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and her colleagues write in the medical journal Urology. Rating: 5

[3 Sheets To The Wind]

That's why catheters (sp?) were created

Oh, I just read the statement in bold, proving that it's all BS lol.

[lemonboy]

Yeah, they even say it is "impossible to identify any link between cigarettes and cancer risk" among these test subjects. What a load of bullshit.

[benagain]

well I've allways thought the whole pot give you cancer bit was bullshit anyway. I don't care what you find on this planet, if you smoke it out of a bong, you're gonna get some cancer. Funny how you never hear that eating or vaporizing it is ok.

SMOKE = CANCER

actully let me edit that...

SMOKE = TAR. TAR = CANCER

[benagain]

It's even known that smoked foods (such as bbq) contains carcinogens. But I guess anything sitting in hot hickory smoke is bound to have some bad shit in it.

[3 Sheets To The Wind]

well I've allways thought the whole pot give you cancer bit was bullshit anyway. I don't care what you find on this planet, if you smoke it out of a bong, you're gonna get some cancer. Funny how you never hear that eating or vaporizing it is ok.

SMOKE = CANCER

actully let me edit that...

SMOKE = TAR. TAR = CANCER

Carcinogens and all chemicals in smoke add to it too, not just the tar

[lemonboy]

Well I think the tar is comprised of those things and that is what he was trying to say. Yes, they always leave out the well known fact that cannabis can be consumed many different ways. Bad science, bad journalism.

[homemade]

i think we should all relax and have a bowl of Asbestos

[benagain]

i think we should all relax and have a bowl of Asbestos

LMAO. Have another redbull while you're at it. Or try a new diet pill that will end up making you go blind in a year :thumbsup:

[Whos Carl]

I need a piss now.