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Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images Contributor
Sheryl Crow performs at the Mountain Winery on July 22, 2012 in Saratoga, Calif.
Singer Sheryl Crow says she believes her benign brain tumor was caused by frequent cellphone use, but the science to date does not support her theory.
Crow said that although no doctors will confirm it, she thinks it's possible her brain tumor, called a meningioma, is related to her cellphone use. "I [used to spend] hours on the old, archaic cellphones," Crow said on Monday's episode of Katie Couric's daytime talk show "Katie."
However, there is little evidence linking cellphone use to brain tumors, and most studies have not found a link. For one thing, brain tumors aren't any more common, although cellphone use has exploded.
"There is no conclusive proof that cellphones cause brain tumors," said Dr. Michael Schulder, vice chairman of the department of neurosurgery at Cushing Neuroscience Institute in Manhasset, N.Y.
About 6,000 people are diagnosed with meningiomas yearly in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute. Schulder told MyHealthNewsDaily that Crow falls into the group that is most prone to developing meningiomas — women in their 40s and 50s.
Although they're called brain tumors, meningiomas actually form in the lining of the brain rather than the brain itself. Most are benign, meaning they are unlikely to spread to other sites within the body.
"There is no reason to think that there's some other extra cause" for Crow's meningioma. "She meets the risk factor profile for developing that tumor," said Schulder, who is not involved in Crow's care.
Cellphones emit radiofrequency energy, which can be absorbed by tissues, according to the NCI. But so far, the only known biological effect of this energy, which is also emitted by microwave ovens, is a tiny rise in temperature, the NCI says. Unlike the ionizing radiation in X-rays, radiofrequency energy is not known to damage DNA. (Damage to DNA is considered a necessary step to cause cancer, the NCI says.)
A Danish study of nearly 2.9 million people that was published last year found that those who used cellphones for 11 years or more were no more likely to develop a type of benign brain tumor called a vestibular schwannoma than those who used cellphones for a shorter period, or not at all.
Another 2011 study from Denmark found no link between the location of brain tumors called gliomas and the regions of the brain that are exposed to the highest levels of radiofrequency energy.
In addition, between the 1987 and 2007, a period when cellphone use rose rapidly, there was no increase in the incidence of brain cancer in the United States, the NCI says.
A U.S. government study published last year did find that people who used a cellphone for 50 minutes showed an increase in sugar metabolism in the tissues on the side of their head closest to the phone. However, the health outcomes of this increased metabolism were not known, the researchers said. In May 2011, the World Health Organization said it was conceivable that cellphones might cause cancer.
Because cellphone technology is changing rapidly, and people use cellphones differently from in the past, more research is needed on the possibility of a link between cellphones and cancer, the NCI says.
In the meantime, Schulder said, people can use hands-free devices, such as headsets, to avoid unnecessary exposure to cellphone radiofrequency energy.
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Just because they haven't found a cancer link doesn't mean that it's not causing other problems,as they have found altered blood chemistry.
Sheryl Crow lost all credibility with her "one square of toilet paper" comment several years ago. What an idiot.
Big corporations used to deny smoking caused cancer until so many people developed lung cancer there was no more denying.
Twenty years or so they will admit it could cause brain tumors.
No matter if you're 23 out of 23 in your medical class. If you passed, you were still called DOCTOR !
Doesn't mean you're smart.
That confirms it, Cellphone use gave her a brain tumor, forks and spoons made me fat! Can I get Social Security Disability now????? Give me a break!
Cellphones put electromagnetic energy, riding in an aircraft means you receive more radiation then at sea level, and so forth.
Let's take this as fact: Radiation is everywhere, neutrino's are ripping through your body frequently, gamma rays are streaming off of star nova's.
Another fact: We all die
Conclusion: Don't listen to celebrities about science, unless they can prove their knowledge.
Science can't back it or it would put hundreds of multi million dollar companies out of business and they know which side thier bread is buttered on...besides, The word Scientist just means a bunch of people who really don't know....
Well, not that anybody is going to read this but,
I think Sheryl probably sat too close to an out of tune television as a child and got X-rayed too much.
The prolific use of X-rays would be a far more likely culprit to blame than a little RF energy from a mobile phone.
Most of the cancers could be blamed on genetics due to mutations in the human genome from children produced by people who were too closely related and possibly the invention of the cathode ray tube (TV) It doesn't take much to detune a CRT, which then becomes an X-ray machine. Made me happy when they found a better way with the LED displays. My old CRT monitors got scrapped poste haste.
Back in the early days they had X-ray machines in shoe stores. Until they found out it was killing their salesmen!
I am suprised this was reported. Usually the media treats anything a celebrity spouts as the gospel. Someone must be afraid of a law limiting the use of cell phones. Most comments by celebrities have no foundation in fact. Most of them are not qualified to speak on any issue except fashion.
Completely agree with Sheryl Crow...Don't let opinions break down your feelings.
It's like the inner voice telling you don't fly or don't go somewhere. You just know.
That's why some folks are blessed with that sense. The sense of KNOWING.
MENINGIOMA has been around since I was a kid. (I bought the Flintstone rock-mobile as a used car). May be better to get on knees and thank whatever god she believes in that it is benighn.....than to speculate what none of us know for sure....yet.
One thing I DON'T need to speculate. The traffic deaths, injuries, and property damage caused by cellphones.
Last week, I held a pressure dressing on a young girl (good looking...I think??). She zipped by me on the cell, changed lanes into the side of a truck. The truck won. Not a mechanic, but her new Toyota looked totalled to me.
But the worst.....she's gonna have one helluva scar which I think was actually caused by the phone.
I gave the CHP my written witness statement that she was on the phone.
As an ex-corpsman and EMT, I can't bring myself to not stop at an accident. I just can't see a phone call or text message being worth the pain and suffering I've seen.
Some of you people make me laugh with the comments saying " there is no proof that cell phones cause cancer, but then again there is no proof that they don't".
That logic is laughable. Here is one for you serial killers have been linked to having milk with breakfast as children.
BWAHAHAHA
You looking for logic on a public forum? ROFL
They don't teach epistemology anymore. They only teach the bare minimum of what we want you to know... as long as the next group passes the continually lowered standard aptitude tests.
Res ipsa loquitur.
Was that milk in a glass, or milk in cereal with 4oz. of sugar??? :)
"Science" doesn't say anything; scientists do.
BIG difference when you insert interpretation.
Why is most people don't want to believe the most obvious and claim everyone is a conspiracy nut.
It's a proven fact that cell phones emit burst of energy and radiation, so much so, there is a video showing popcorn being popped while being set in the middle of like 4 active phones. Now I know your all going to say that no one uses 4 phones at a time, but seriously, you dont need to when you consider how much continuous useage she may have on an on going daily basis, the quality of the phone, the power of the phone(yes, energy output can be measured), etc....and a few yrs ago there was a news report on tv where an interview was conducted with a former executive of a cell phone manufactuer, and he admitted and showed an inter-office memo and scientific study conducted by there own labs which showed a direct cause and effect of brain tumors due to continuous exposure to cell phones. It was recomended that when using cell phones, you limit the time spent directly on the phone; if possible, don't put the phone directly to your ear, use speaker option if possible or head phones for listening; blu-tooth devices also use energy sources and transmit energy bursts; and turn off the phone if not needed.
The only negative claim about cell phone use that doesn't have enough research to make an absolute statement about, but does show some possible evidence, is if it is possible to ignite a spark and set off gas fumes at a gas pump. As for me, till the evidence is all there, I'd rather people err on the safe side and not use them while filling up.
Completely agree with Sheryl Crow. Sheryl don't let opinions change your
views and feelings. It is like when your inner voice tells you not to get on
a plane or go somewhere. You just know. Some are just blessed with this
sense. The sense of KNOWING.
Well remember there was a study that showed holding the cellphone in your lap could cause testicular cancer? So why not a brain tumor or other abnormality from hold it to your head/ear?
Well, she's entitled to her opinion, however ignorant we may think it is. She may think that cell phones cause brain tumors but unless she has some proof other than saying I think cell phone usage caused this, no one will believe her claims. There are many things that could have caused her brain tumor, and pinpointing a specific cause is impossible.
She can speculate all she wants but if scientists and doctors cannot pinpoint a specific factor in causing brain tumors, it's just a mere speculation.
As others have pointed out, I find it odd that now that everyone and their mother has a cellphone and is constantly on it, we haven't heard of more incidents of brain tumors or even brain cancer, so this will make anyone question her theories and remain skeptical.
Instead of dwelling on it, she should try to remain optimistic and seek treatment. That is all she can really do. I'm sure she will be fine!
Oh, here we go.....
And it is the medias duty to give every radical nut publicity...
I witnessed what can happen with extended cell phone use first hand. I had a boss who was perfectly healthy before she began using cell phones and more importantl bluetooth stuck in her ear. She was also the sales manager so she never took it off. First there were headaches and then the doctors found the brain cancer. She died a few months later.
Dont believe these non-science (nonsense) reports. Do you really think with all the popularity of cell phones that they are gonna make a public admission to anything dangerous at all? When you witness it yourself, its pretty clear what the cause is. Scientists will do their best to cover this up for the time being. I do have a cell phone myself, but I rarely use it and leave it at home now. I wont ever use a bluetooth headset.
In 2003 after being plaqued with severe headaches, blurred and nausea they confirmed that I had the same tumor. I was not using a cell phone before hand. These just show up. They grow slow. So she could of hand it for years before any knowledge of it. Mine was removed during a 9 hr. surgery. Complications? Yes.... But you learn to live with it. She just needs something to complain about since no one even knows who she is anymore...
My goodness John Doe 2437959, go back to school? Why, so we can extend the indoctrination of our minds like you apparently have? The "facts" you presented are based off old facts that are based off old ways of thinking--manufactured-in-the-box ignorances that were unknowingly consented to. You obviously stood true to this day when they said, "Believe what you are told or else." You should stop going to school, if you are still in, and start reading the new facts of these matters so you may finally learn some truths.
The articles I posted showed that non-ionizing radiation does pose health risks. Is the world still flat as far as your concerned? Because in the 21st century, the world is mostly round. Copy and paste some of the articles I posted (apparently the web addresses that I originally posted were omitted by this site). You know what, to save you time, here they are: "Acute low-intensity microwave exposure increases DNA single-strand breaks in rat brain cells" Here's the site: wwwdotncbidotnlmdotnihdotgov/pubmed/7677797 (if the "address" doesn't show up on this post, then just copy and paste the title onto your search engine of choice). Here's another: "Permeability of the blood-brain barrier induced by 915 MHz electromagnetic radiation, continuous wave and modulated at 8, 16, 50, and 200 Hz." site: wwwdotncbidotnlmdotnihdotgov/pubmed/8012056. And another for good measure: (titled: "IARC CLASSIFIES RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS AS POSSIBLY CARCINOGENIC TO HUMANS")
If you're into the proper mode of knowledge acquisition (in this case, just simply thinking for yourself), I've got a plethora of links that can point you in the right direction and out of the archaic way of thinking every American has been trained to possess. Ask and you shall receive.