Cell Phones and Brain Cancer
With Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s recent diagnosis of glioma, a malignant brain cancer, the debate about the use of cell phones has been reignited. Last week, three prominent brain surgeons told Larry King on CNN that they do not hold cell phones against their ears.
According to an article in the June 3, 2008 edition of the New York Times Health Section, the three surgeons, Dr. Keith Black of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA, Dr. Vini Khurana at the Australian National University, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta of Emory University and CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, all said they either use a headset or use the phone in speaker mode to remove it from their ears and reduce microwave radiation exposure.
CITA, the wireless association’s industry trade group states that “the overwhelming majority of studies…show that wireless phones do not cause a health risk.” However, the FDA has noted that the average period of phone use in the studies was about three years and they don’t address questions about long-term exposure. The studies also did not distinguish between casual and heavy use.
As we have pointed out in a previous article, cell phone use has been associated with acoustic neuroma, a type of brain tumor that causes tinnitus. The other types that are also suspected to be due to cell phone use are glioma, the type Sen. Kennedy developed, and cancer of the parotid, a salivary gland near the ear.
Last year the American Journal of Epidemiology published data from Israel finding a 58% increased risk of Parotid gland tumors among heavy cell phone users. Also, A Swedish analysis of 16 studies in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine showed a doubling of risk for acoustic neuroma and glioma after 10 years of heavy cell phone use.
Some doctors say the real concern is not older cell phone users, who began using phones as adults, but children who are beginning to use phones and face a lifetime of exposure. Young people are much more affected. Their brains are growing rapidly and their skulls are thinner.
It is highly advised for all people to use a headset or set the phone on speaker mode. And to restrict cell phone use among young people.
Barry Keate
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With Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s recent diagnosis of glioma, a malignant brain cancer, the debate about the use of cell phones has been reignited. Last week, three prominent brain surgeons told Larry King on CNN that they do not hold cell phones against their ears.
According to an article in the June 3, 2008 edition of the New York Times Health Section, the three surgeons, Dr. Keith Black of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA, Dr. Vini Khurana at the Australian National University, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta of Emory University and CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, all said they either use a headset or use the phone in speaker mode to remove it from their ears and reduce microwave radiation exposure.
CITA, the wireless association’s industry trade group states that “the overwhelming majority of studies…show that wireless phones do not cause a health risk.” However, the FDA has noted that the average period of phone use in the studies was about three years and they don’t address questions about long-term exposure. The studies also did not distinguish between casual and heavy use.
As we have pointed out in a previous article, cell phone use has been associated with acoustic neuroma, a type of brain tumor that causes tinnitus. The other types that are also suspected to be due to cell phone use are glioma, the type Sen. Kennedy developed, and cancer of the parotid, a salivary gland near the ear.
Last year the American Journal of Epidemiology published data from Israel finding a 58% increased risk of Parotid gland tumors among heavy cell phone users. Also, A Swedish analysis of 16 studies in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine showed a doubling of risk for acoustic neuroma and glioma after 10 years of heavy cell phone use.
Some doctors say the real concern is not older cell phone users, who began using phones as adults, but children who are beginning to use phones and face a lifetime of exposure. Young people are much more affected. Their brains are growing rapidly and their skulls are thinner.
It is highly advised for all people to use a headset or set the phone on speaker mode. And to restrict cell phone use among young people.
Barry Keate
Book Mark it-> del.icio.us | Reddit | Slashdot | Digg | Facebook | Technorati | Google | StumbleUpon | Window Live | Tailrank | Furl | Netscape | Yahoo | BlinkList
July 1st, 2008 at 6:00 am
Your newsletter is always so interesting and informative. I developed tinitus about a year ago and really appreciate the information.
Regarding the use of cell phones and brain cancer, do the same effects also occur with the use of portable phones, the kind you would have in the house so that you can move from room to room while on the phone?
July 1st, 2008 at 10:00 am
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for your comment and we are glad you find our newsletters of value.
Portable phones found in the home use standard electrical current are quite safe. The concern is over cell phones using microwave energy.
Brent Curtis – Editor
July 1st, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Acoustic Neuroma, according to my ENT and other information I have read is not brain cancer. It is a benign growth on the auditory nerve.
July 1st, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I have lost my hearing in the left ear which is the one used for my cell phone. I was in marketing so that ear was used constantly hours at a time. The doctors can find no other explanation for the hearing loss and tinnitus. I was in marketing starting in the 1970’s so used the early cell phones
July 1st, 2008 at 4:57 pm
My hearing loss on one side and tinnitus is indicative of a growth, but two open MRIs did not show a tumor. Is there anything else to be done to reach a diagnosis of the hearing loss?
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:42 am
Hi Gary,
We received several other posts from astute readers like you who caught our misuse of syntax. Acoustic neuromas are indeed not cancerous but can cause severe complications in the brain if allowed to grow too large. That part of the post has been edited. Thanks to all who wrote in.
Barry wrote and article on the subject and can be seen here:
http://www.tinnitusformula.com/infocenter/articles/conditions/neuroma.aspx
Brent Curtis – Editor
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:32 am
This is in response to Barbara’s second posting.
I also have hearing loss and tinnitus primarily on one side. If you have had two MRIs with no negative indications, I would say you probably do not have an AN. The most likely cause is noise-induced hearing loss in that ear.
Barry