harrington@neptun.DEC (10/21/85)
I'm just an ignorant layman, but I've been thinking about something lately, and I wondered if anyone on the net had any ideas about this. One of the theories about cancer I've heard is that everybody has can- car; however, for most people it's not a problem because their immune-system takes care of it while the cancers are still just isolated, individual cells. When cancer DOES develop, it's because (so says this theory) something has hap- pened to impair or weaken the immune-system. Now, another theory I've heard is that an allergy like hay fever results from an overly-sensitive immune-system, one that reacts TOO WELL to "invaders" like pollen. Sounds like an immune-system that's stronger than it has to be. So, what I'm wondering is, have any studies been done comparing the in- cidence of cancer in individuals with and without allergy problems? Has any sort of correlation, either positive or negative, been shown between cancer and al- lergies? Even to me who's asking the question, this premise sounds a bit bizarre, but still it sounds like something that SOMEONE might have explored, or might want to. Does anyone know? ----- Shawn H.
wws@ukma.UUCP (Bill Stoll) (10/26/85)
In article <949@decwrl.UUCP>, harrington@neptun.DEC writes: > > One of the theories about cancer I've heard is that everybody has can- > car; however, for most people it's not a problem because their immune-system > takes care of it while the cancers are still just isolated, individual cells. > When cancer DOES develop, it's because (so says this theory) something has hap- > pened to impair or weaken the immune-system. > > Now, another theory I've heard is that an allergy like hay fever results > from an overly-sensitive immune-system, one that reacts TOO WELL to "invaders" > like pollen. Sounds like an immune-system that's stronger than it has to be. > No more so than when you "overreact" to someone because you are tired as compared to how you would have reacted to the same when completely > but still it sounds like something that SOMEONE might have explored, or might > want to. > I, too would be interested in such a study. My guess is that it is like comparing apples and oranges. They are both fruits but don't really fit into the same basket in the same way. > Does anyone know? > > ----- Shawn H. -- cbosgd!ukma!wws(Walt Stoll) YOU Walt Stoll, MD, ABFP Founder & Medical Director ARE MORE Holistic Medical Centre 1412 North Broadway Lexington, Kentucky 40505 THAN YOU THINK (606) 233-4273