Cruel hope; A book on breast cancer 'prevention' fosters false hope
Editorial
Copyright 1998 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
December 2, 1998
Not only is the title misleading, but the book also holds out false hope to millions of American women.
The book, "The Breast Cancer Prevention Diet: The Powerful Foods, Supplements and Drugs That Can Save Your Life," by
NBC's Dr. Bob Arnot, taps women's fear of being diagnosed with breast cancer.The premise of the book is for women to limit their
consumption of some foods and increase intake of others now instead of waiting for science to determine what types of foods are best for breast
cancer prevention.
A proper diet is always a good practice, and it is an absolutely essential element in good health. But even
women most likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer know that a good diet is no guarantee against cancer.
No particular diet,
drug or supplement is known to prevent breast cancer. If so, Dr. Arnot wouldn't be the only one writ ing about it. He might have done better
to suggest that women can reduce breast cancer risk with diet.
Further discrediting the television correspondent and physician is
that sources quoted in the book view it with disdain as well. A nutritional science professor at the University of Toronto said the description
of her research in Dr. Arnot's book is misleading. A University of California nutrition scientist takes exception to his suggestion that a diet she
is testing prevents breast cancer. Even the American Council on Science and Health describes the book as "unscientific and deception, a
disservice to American women."
A professional of Dr. Arnot's caliber and experience should have known better. He now
acknowledges that talking about risk reduction would have been preferable to touting prevention. But it's too late for that now.
[Latest Documents]
[Topics Editor]
[Archive]
[Help]
[Previous document]
[Next document]
[About LEXIS-NEXIS]
[Feedback]
[Customer Service]
[Terms & Conditions]
Copyright© 1998 LEXIS-NEXIS, a division of Reed Elsevier
Inc. All rights Reserved.