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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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I heard that listening to Cheryl Crow on your Ipod causes nausea
If Cheryl Crow is on my Ipod i'm pretty sure I picked up the wrong Ipod.
Once again we give credence to the half baked ideas of some "goofball" world organization and Crow is the kind of "left wing" advocate that automatically thinks anything declared by any organization with "world " or global" in its' title has to be correct! These two-bit world organizations are seeking to control every facet of our lives and we should be reestablishing our sovereignty and depending only on irrefutable fact coming from American sources!
There is no increase in brain cancers despite heavy cellphone use.
People are texting much more than calling nowadays, potential non-problem solved.
If you want to have something real to worry about I have a word for you FUKUSHIMA.
Did you know 42% of kids in Fukushima area now have modules on thier THYROID gland.
Normal rate is <2% and its only been 18 months.
"She never said she had cancer."
She has a meningioma, which is a type of tumor, i.e. cancer. She said it's not malignant, but it's definitely considered cancer.
You are wrong.
@DonnaFritz....Ummm....not malignant=not cancer...Definitely...
Why would anybody want to waste so much time on the phone? To much of anything is bad for you.
Cigarettes are completely healthy, right? And climbing under a school desk will protect you in a nuclear blast and drilling for oil in the deep ocean is completely safe and so is flying drones over your homeland. You United State-ians are the most brainwashed monkies on the planet and will believe anything a person in a suit or lab coat tells you. The UK engineer who invented wifi put a report out that says wifi towers Are, in fact detrimental to the health of children and pregnant women. There is a more recent study that proves excessive cell phone use heats up one side of your brain and a newer study that refutes the study presented here as fact. Look at who sponsors such studies before you jump on their bandwagon.
And so, i suppose you will all just have to use ..."intuition", instead of name calling, and fact denial, to support your more mundane choices. Grow up ya buncha simple minded fools.
In the neighborhood in which I live,there a four women whose husbands died in the 1980's and who range in age from 95 to 98.They all use to smoke and drink like sailors.One,the oldest,now walks around with her oxegen tank but none of them will ever die.The neigbors have a lottery on who is going to die first.I know it wouldn't do me anything to bet because my heirs would have to collect and I dont want to leave them anything!
So... you're calling us simple-minded for believing scientists... while at the same time quoting a study by a scientist (technically an engineer, but the idea is the same, the guy actually knows the subject)... and to support your "hypothesis" as to how "brainwashed" we are you quote a few subjects which are either highly controversial (drilling, drones) or have been proven wrong by science (smoking is healthy)...
I'm calling it. Your post is complete nonsense. You seem to be saying "you're stupid for ever trusting scientists other than the ones I trust", which would be at worst a marginal point if it weren't attached to an article about Sheryl Crow asserting her scientific "theory" over that of actual researchers. It's pointless to call people out for believing what someone in a lab coat says when so many people will listen to someone holding a guitar. Blindly obeying people in suits and lab coats would be a HUGE step forward.
If cell phone use causes cancer, then Sheryl Crow should most definitely keep talking on hers quite frequently. Then she will finally die and the world will never have to listen to her destroy other real musicians fantastic songs or her crap garbage original music she wrote all by herself!
Heard of a bluetooth?
Silly liberal,they think they will live forever and if anythings interfers with that dream has to be caused by a gigantic conspiracy to kill them because they are so important to the earth! Sorry Sheryl,the world will not stop when your heart does! Your music is going to be relegated to trashpan of history!Just goes to show you,like Milton Berle use to say,the healthy just die healthier!
I love it when celebrities speak out on scientific/medical issues because they have, you know, gone to college and earned post-graduate degrees. Stick to singing Sheryl. And Jenny, continue taking off your clothes for Playboy or hosting bimbo shows because that is what you do best.
I should also add that I have had patients who are smokers complain about the radiation from dental x-rays.
Well, they have a point, DDS. After all, they're on the hook for plenty of cancer as it is.
You guys have fun with this nonsense.
I have to go now.
I have an incoming phone call.
It's the Armadrillians just trying to kill us one at a time so we don't notice.I guess one of them got irritated by her annoying voice and sh!t music and decided to oft her. Welcome to Armadrillianland!Won't get to sing much but I think they will find someway for you to pay your rent and it wont be from riding a bicycle!
I love how people on here are saying "even if cell phones do cause cancer they will never be allowed to say that they do because there is too much money made by cell phone companies for this to happen." thats an interesting twist considering every idiot on the planet knows that cigs do in fact contribute to cancer, various lung diseases, and for the average smoker takes 10 years off their lives. Every knows this and yet billions of dollars are generated by cigs every year. People would use cell phones even if they knew they were harmful, which they are not. Contrary to popular belief all radiation is not harmful. For instance the heat from the sun is "heat radiation" and without that we would all in fact be dead. Thats just one example. Its very unlikely the cell phones cause brain tumors. and even if they did and it came out people would still continue to use them, just like they still smoke, still eat fast food, and still continue use medications they know are harmful. There is no cover-up with the cell phone company. If it was harmful they wouldn't have a problem telling us so, because they know the vast majority of us are so dependent on our cell phones now that we would continue to use them regardless of the risks.
Well, heat from the sun contributes vital warmth to the planet, while also providing UV radiation, which is harmful. So that's a bad example, since you can block one without stopping the other (in fact, thanks to global warming we're getting more heat than ever!). You're completely right though.
As they would say...stop talking on the phone all the time!....oh too late for you.
I'm sure she has been worn not to spend so much time on the cell phone because it may cause cancer or tumors. Everybody knows that a cell phone puts out very high frequencies how else do they work? Duh! I love my cell phone but try to minimize the amount of time having it next to my head. I hear not good to have it next to the family jewels either. She might be right? Might be a coincidence? Perhaps the problem is to much gossiping on the phone.
Hope she is wrong about cell phones causing cancer. Six Billion people will die if she is right.
Good! I'll still be alive because i use about 20 minutes a month!
Science is always processing and analyzing new data as it comes in. Cell phones have only been in heavy use for about 15 years. Most cancers take decades to develop, but of course it varies from person to person.
There may turn out not to be a link. But until enough time has elapsed from when cell phones first became widely used, the science will be inconclusive.
If it does turn out that cell phones increase your chance to get a brain tumor, it will cost the cell phone industry billion$.
Dont forget, those signals are strong enough to go through block walls and depending on the direction of the nearest tower most of the time the signal goes right through your head.
Buying a cell phone and hanging out with the unclean masses,doing so, will cause you an early death!
Let's have it mandatory that all 11 year olds get the HPV. Certainly to increase the profits of Merck. That's what they're trying to do in my state. HELP!
Huh? Are you posting on the right article? Do you live in Texas?
any one remember the popcorn kernals that pop'ed with cell phone antenna's aimed at the seeds ?
No. But I remember a few mine explosions.
When I used to use my cell phone excessively, my head felt strange on the side I used to talk. I switched to an earpiece and it all went away. Not a coincidence.
I remember the fones that were portable but required a small vehicle to transport them from one site to another.They were not worth a damn because there were no towers! I started with Verizon 6 months after they opened shop and have always loved their service and the range of thier service.Hell,they give me fones(good ones) for free because i've been around so long.I've been with Verizon longer than most of their sales agents have been on earth!Of course,i don't use them that much anymore but they are nice to have when you travel.
It probably wasn't. Doesn't mean the cell phone is growing a tumor in your head, though.
There was a study about 15 years ago in which two scientist proposed the reason for a higher incedences of cancer in urban areas is attributed to the exposure to the high doses of microwave beam while traveling to and from work.Seems that while we are stuck in traffic, we ,at various times, end up sitting under overpasses.Everyone on their phone,truckers on Cb and just everyone in the proximity of that spot is bonmbarding that spot with enormous microwave transmissions.There is no way to avoid them unless you do as I did,leave early and go home late.That not only will make sure you live longer but you will have more money because your boss will think yo are the most industrious person in the office and give you raises and promotions over the fleeing lemming who leave at 5:01!
Some people have a life before and after work kiss ass.
Freedom! What you never bent those knees to rub your tongue up someone's butt? Please,you do it everyday just to keep your mommy from throwing your worthless ass out.I made a lot more money than you will ever and achieved positions you will never achieve.Thats because,the number one thing in your life is to be at an Apple store tomorrow so you can get the latest ifone.Who gives a damn!
"Some people have a life before and after work kiss ass."
Not if they get cancer and die, they won't.
No conclusive proof? Not yet, maybe. But that doesn't mean she's wrong.
I got a fone and everytime I used it,I got a pain in my right ear.It was months before I realized that little leg was a stand and not meant to be shoved in your ear.Still can't hear in my right ear!
Neither does BIG BUSINESS/GOVERNMENT, and everyone else making BILLIONS off the mobile industry. Don't believe anything you read or hear from the mainstream media. ESPECIALLY MSN!
P.S. Water your houseplants with water that has been microwaved and see what happens. Microwaves are killing us slowly also. Have a nice night everyone. ; )
That is all..
Cant go to one single site without an Obamyite coming out to make a comment in defense of his worthless ass! The only people voting for this loser are the ones on some form on federal entitlement.Therefore,I can only assume you fall into that classless group.Not everyone,not even a majority of republicans are wealthy.They are just tired of paying the bills for losers like you.youu won't get a job,you won't do anything to pay back this great country for allowing you to be a loser.You would rather just pitch your sh!t tent right in tthe highway of change! go ahead! But I warn you,if Obamy is re elected,it isn't going to a bed of roses for you and your ilk.Just the opposite,it will be hell before his term ends.Violence in the streets.Gun carrying people who may not be as kind to you as I am right now! And what will you do? Ask the military who you harte to save your butt?They won't have the time or inlcination to do thst.It will be every man for himself.And since you are not a man,you will be the first to go!Leach!
So instead of believing the mainstream media, with its oceans of competing interests, easy access to information, and indepedent journalists and researchers, we should believe random fanatics cluttering up Internet comments sections with overused Caps Locks?
That seems like a bad trade to me.