After news of Ted Kennedy's tumor, on a recent episode of Larry King live Johnnie Cochran's widow, Dale, and his neurosurgeon Dr. Keith Black discussed how cell phones may have led to the lawyer's death. In fact, Dale, felt that her husband's excessive usage of cell phones in his business life, may have had some connection to his condition. You can watch the video here: (http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/05/28/lkl.cell.cancer.cnn). After watching the show, I was pretty convinced that this theory was more than just a fleeting supposition. Yesterday, the New York Times reported (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/health/03well.html) on the reemergence of the cell phone link to a certain tumor, citing three doctors who appeared on CNN who do not use their cellphones near their ears or without an earpiece. But the CTIA — the Wireless Association, claims that the studies are inconclusive and there are no real health risks associated with using a cell phone.
I don't know. The Larry King report has me rethinking how I use my cell phone, and how often I use it.
There has always been this risk, and its going to take years before we know the real consequences of long-term use of cell phones. But cell phones have become so common place in today's culture that its too late to get rid of them.
Absolutely. This is a good question. I know a lot of people think that cellphone-related harm is a crock, but think about how many people you see today with their cellphones practically Velcroed to their ears. Obviously, too much of ANYTHING isn't good, which is why Verizon can collect my phone from the bottom of East River.
A fairly simple solution would be to use a hands free device. I do this when it's really cold in New York and I don't want to take my hands out of my pocket! People look at you like you're crazy sometimes, but if there's enough publicity about the relationship between cell phone usage and brain tumors, I'm sure the hands free thing will catch on.
again, the comment below was meant for Today's Big idea. In regards to the brain tumor...yes, I have been re-thinking the use of my cell phone for the past year. My mom is a real estate agent and is on her phone 24/7. She has officially lost her sense of smell. Suspicious? I just hope that the new 'hands-free' law in California may help to prove the association (or lack of) between cell phones and brain tumors
I would say that, yes, it does impact it some. But for me, the choice to put down the cell phone (or BlackBerry, or regular phone, or any other gadget) is more impacted by the invasion of these gadgets to our lives. People seem to forget that you can live without either the iPhone or the BlackBerry, and that business has been done without either of them for centuries.
I hate when people decide to answer the phone when I'm talking to them or when I'm sitting down to a meal ... these calls are usually NOT emergencies, and I hate it. I don't do it to other people, and I expect the same curtesy in return.
No -- there's no evidence brain tumors are caused by cell phones. They're caused by genetic predisposition, in combination with exposure to other risk factors like the carcinogens Ted may have been consuming/absorbing for the last half-century.
yes - mainly the media coverage of it.. actual coverage of respectable names in medicine admitting that they use ear-buds as oppose to phone-2-ear or bluetuth - out of caution for microwave rays. Good enough for me.
let's see...hell no! it's been proven time and time again that a normal person's usage of their cell phone will not cause brain tumors. Furthermore, if you are so gullible as to think that your cell phone is bad for you, either:
1-get rid of it. use pay phones. that's waaaaay healthier;or
2-hmmmm get a $20 headset.
No, I would stop using a cell phone for so many other reasons. Such as the idea that we must be plugged in all the time is unhealthy. What has happened to Walden-esque escapism? I know he was only a few miles out of town, but he was far enough away that if you wanted to see him you had to put forth some effort. People use cell phones, computers, and modern technology so much these days that they forget the physical contact of a face to face meeting. I have worked for years never actually meeting the people I work with. I have lived 27 years with out actual trips to see my family on the East Coast, that is changing now, but my parents didn't think it was so important because we could talk to each other on the phone, write letters, or email. If a brain tumor is what it takes for society to start meeting in person again, then it is a blessing for the rest of us.
Not at all. There is still no hard evidence directly linking Cellphone use and brain cancer, just vague connections to it, mostly in the theoretical field. Long-lasting and intense exposition to a carcinogenic is needed for it to maybe induce cancer, and I really don't think Teddy's been using cellphones since he was a kid (unlike youngsters nowadays, which, if cellphone was carcinogenic, I bet there'd be much more brain cancer than there is today). Another fact worth mentioning is that Carcinogenesis(development of cancer) has a strong genetic origin (probably more than the external causes). And also, Cancer arises much more commonly in cells that are constantly regenerating (like intestines), and less common in cells that hardly change at all (like brain cells). So the cellphone cancer theory must be an old wives tale I'm not gonna pay attention to.
I am not at all worried about cell phone use for a different reason.
I gave up my cellphone some time ago. Messages wait till I am ready. But I am fully connected with the emergent reality because I have a state of the art computer. I own my time and feel good about myself. I am not a multi-tasker but tend follow the zen of the moment. The brain is doing well so far.
As someone who owns a wireless retail store I think that there are many good reasons to consider purchasing a headset. If you are at all concerned about the long term use of a cell phone then using a headset is a good option for you. However, the bigger safety issue is the way people drive while talking on their cell phones. Unfortunately there will be more deaths caused by negligent drivers who are talking and texting most likely than by a spike in brain cancer. The fact that the media is drawing attention to this is a positive thing if it can make more people wear headsets, the roads will be safer for everyone.
23 Total
June 5, 2008 at 10:07am by Lynne d Johnson
After news of Ted Kennedy's tumor, on a recent episode of Larry King live Johnnie Cochran's widow, Dale, and his neurosurgeon Dr. Keith Black discussed how cell phones may have led to the lawyer's death. In fact, Dale, felt that her husband's excessive usage of cell phones in his business life, may have had some connection to his condition. You can watch the video here: (http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/05/28/lkl.cell.cancer.cnn). After watching the show, I was pretty convinced that this theory was more than just a fleeting supposition. Yesterday, the New York Times reported (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/health/03well.html) on the reemergence of the cell phone link to a certain tumor, citing three doctors who appeared on CNN who do not use their cellphones near their ears or without an earpiece. But the CTIA — the Wireless Association, claims that the studies are inconclusive and there are no real health risks associated with using a cell phone.
I don't know. The Larry King report has me rethinking how I use my cell phone, and how often I use it.
June 5, 2008 at 10:28am by Rachel King
There has always been this risk, and its going to take years before we know the real consequences of long-term use of cell phones. But cell phones have become so common place in today's culture that its too late to get rid of them.
June 5, 2008 at 10:58am by Rip Empson
Absolutely. This is a good question. I know a lot of people think that cellphone-related harm is a crock, but think about how many people you see today with their cellphones practically Velcroed to their ears. Obviously, too much of ANYTHING isn't good, which is why Verizon can collect my phone from the bottom of East River.
June 5, 2008 at 11:20am by Saabira Chaudhuri
A fairly simple solution would be to use a hands free device. I do this when it's really cold in New York and I don't want to take my hands out of my pocket! People look at you like you're crazy sometimes, but if there's enough publicity about the relationship between cell phone usage and brain tumors, I'm sure the hands free thing will catch on.
June 5, 2008 at 1:06pm by Tim Tymchyshyn
oh give me a break
what is next? Eating whole grains horrible because we will be producing too much methane so the green house gases will increase.
stuff like this is based on fear and retarded reporting
June 5, 2008 at 2:00pm by Kelly Brent
again, the comment below was meant for Today's Big idea. In regards to the brain tumor...yes, I have been re-thinking the use of my cell phone for the past year. My mom is a real estate agent and is on her phone 24/7. She has officially lost her sense of smell. Suspicious? I just hope that the new 'hands-free' law in California may help to prove the association (or lack of) between cell phones and brain tumors
June 5, 2008 at 2:26pm by Carel Two-Eagle
No, because I've almost always used a headset, for the same reason I've never used drugs. You only get one brain.
June 5, 2008 at 2:47pm by
No, but it is causing me to re-think my liberal ways ...
June 5, 2008 at 3:37pm by Marc Danziger
yes it is...wired headsets only.
June 5, 2008 at 5:22pm by Oscar Nestell
I would say that, yes, it does impact it some. But for me, the choice to put down the cell phone (or BlackBerry, or regular phone, or any other gadget) is more impacted by the invasion of these gadgets to our lives. People seem to forget that you can live without either the iPhone or the BlackBerry, and that business has been done without either of them for centuries.
I hate when people decide to answer the phone when I'm talking to them or when I'm sitting down to a meal ... these calls are usually NOT emergencies, and I hate it. I don't do it to other people, and I expect the same curtesy in return.
June 5, 2008 at 5:31pm by Dr. Scott Simmerman, CPF
Not really. But it is most interesting to see how far advanced our medical science is getting to be able to help this man.
June 5, 2008 at 5:52pm by Chris Dannen
No -- there's no evidence brain tumors are caused by cell phones. They're caused by genetic predisposition, in combination with exposure to other risk factors like the carcinogens Ted may have been consuming/absorbing for the last half-century.
June 5, 2008 at 6:55pm by Gary Penovich
No. It's causing me to re-think my use of whiskey.
June 5, 2008 at 10:55pm by Stefan Day
yes - mainly the media coverage of it.. actual coverage of respectable names in medicine admitting that they use ear-buds as oppose to phone-2-ear or bluetuth - out of caution for microwave rays. Good enough for me.
June 6, 2008 at 2:42am by elisa lloyd
let's see...hell no! it's been proven time and time again that a normal person's usage of their cell phone will not cause brain tumors. Furthermore, if you are so gullible as to think that your cell phone is bad for you, either:
1-get rid of it. use pay phones. that's waaaaay healthier;or
2-hmmmm get a $20 headset.
June 6, 2008 at 7:12am by tyrone ritter
no
June 6, 2008 at 8:33am by Mark Hovermann
No.
June 6, 2008 at 8:43am by Megan DaGata
No, I would stop using a cell phone for so many other reasons. Such as the idea that we must be plugged in all the time is unhealthy. What has happened to Walden-esque escapism? I know he was only a few miles out of town, but he was far enough away that if you wanted to see him you had to put forth some effort. People use cell phones, computers, and modern technology so much these days that they forget the physical contact of a face to face meeting. I have worked for years never actually meeting the people I work with. I have lived 27 years with out actual trips to see my family on the East Coast, that is changing now, but my parents didn't think it was so important because we could talk to each other on the phone, write letters, or email. If a brain tumor is what it takes for society to start meeting in person again, then it is a blessing for the rest of us.
June 6, 2008 at 3:02pm by Dan Schneider
No
June 6, 2008 at 10:34pm by Edward Espinal
Not at all. There is still no hard evidence directly linking Cellphone use and brain cancer, just vague connections to it, mostly in the theoretical field. Long-lasting and intense exposition to a carcinogenic is needed for it to maybe induce cancer, and I really don't think Teddy's been using cellphones since he was a kid (unlike youngsters nowadays, which, if cellphone was carcinogenic, I bet there'd be much more brain cancer than there is today). Another fact worth mentioning is that Carcinogenesis(development of cancer) has a strong genetic origin (probably more than the external causes). And also, Cancer arises much more commonly in cells that are constantly regenerating (like intestines), and less common in cells that hardly change at all (like brain cells). So the cellphone cancer theory must be an old wives tale I'm not gonna pay attention to.
June 7, 2008 at 3:31am by mohan menon
I am not at all worried about cell phone use for a different reason.
I gave up my cellphone some time ago. Messages wait till I am ready. But I am fully connected with the emergent reality because I have a state of the art computer. I own my time and feel good about myself. I am not a multi-tasker but tend follow the zen of the moment. The brain is doing well so far.
How is that for a diffrent answer? : )
June 7, 2008 at 12:54pm by Lisa Larter
As someone who owns a wireless retail store I think that there are many good reasons to consider purchasing a headset. If you are at all concerned about the long term use of a cell phone then using a headset is a good option for you. However, the bigger safety issue is the way people drive while talking on their cell phones. Unfortunately there will be more deaths caused by negligent drivers who are talking and texting most likely than by a spike in brain cancer. The fact that the media is drawing attention to this is a positive thing if it can make more people wear headsets, the roads will be safer for everyone.
June 10, 2008 at 11:49am by Shakiara Kitchen
No. The numbing feeling and heat produced from holding the phone to my ear has caused me to re-think how I use my cell phone.