Patrick Swayze was shown on the news having a smoke before getting on his plane to fly to get his cancer treatments.

A Dr. was interviewed and I took what he said as it didn't really matter if he smoked or not as it probably wouldn't have any real impact on Mr. Swayze's illness.

The Dr. at least didn't directly link the cancer to smoking.

In a world where we are bumped into by shopping carts, cut off at intersections, almost run over when crossing a street, and an almost endless list goes on does it really matter if he smoked a cigarette if it will basically have no effect on the outcome of the disease?

I think it shows just how bad people are digging to bash on smoker's.

Michael Landon and comedian Bill Hicks were both smokers and both died of pancreatic cancer, the cancer Swayze has. (Hicks was exceptionally young-- he died in his early thirties.)

Here's Swayze having a smoke, then boarding his private jet. This is the picture that got the press in a tizzy that ASmoker123 referenced.



The relative risk for pancreatic cancer in smokers is about 1.6. It's a very weak correlation.

http://www.cancercompass.com/cancer-news/1,11173,00.htm

http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0957-5243(200204)13%3A...PCSOC%3E2.0.CO%3B2-L

Still, though anti-smoking persists in spreading misinformation.

BTW, while looking up the pancreatic cancer stats, I ran across this study showing an RR (relative risk) of about 1.4 for alcohol consumption and pancreatic cancer.

You'll notice in this study that the 1.4 RR is practically waived away in this study: "Alcoholics had only a modest 40% excess risk of pancreatic cancer." The study is dismissive of a 1.20 relative risk indicating that there is "no significant excess risk". A 1.9 relative risk is considered "moderate" for pancreatic cancer in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1773298

These numbers are similar to, if not even a bit higher, than the correlations related to secondhand smoke, according to the vast majority of studies ever done.

You'll also notice that the study blames the increased incidence not on drinking, but on smoking contributing to the risk! "Overrepresented smokers among alcoholics might confound a true SIR of unity among alcoholics to approximately 1.4. SIR among alcoholic chronic pancreatitis patients."

In other words, when you find a small correlation relating to secondhand smoke the wordsare changed in comparison to studies regarding other behaviors, but not the numbers.

There is no trickery or manipulation involved here. These numbers are revealed by a simple Google search.

You can always just the blame the smoking. Why? Because no one will argue with you.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: WinstonSmith,

quote:

Originally posted by WinstonSmith:
Here's Swayze having a smoke, then boarding his private jet. This is the picture that got the press in a tizzy that ASmoker123 referenced.

Did they say anything about Lance Armstrong when he got back on his bicycle and started squishing his remaining....?

Smug O'Reilly tried to link his smoking to his cancer tonight, but the doctor he had on wouldn't go along with him (miraculously).