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**Margaret** · 09-26-07, 08:33 AM

I honestly think that the fact that my husband had a hernia since birth, is what caused his cancer. Not on the list above but worth mentioning.

**RTC** · 09-26-07, 08:39 AM

I think for me . . . stress

**Scott** · 09-26-07, 10:03 AM

As long as everyone realizes this poll may be fun but not scientific...

**Fed** · 09-26-07, 10:22 AM

Originally posted by Scott

As long as everyone realizes this poll may be fun but not scientific...

I concur with Scott. The current working hypothesis is that TC actually arises in utero, but doesn't manifest itself until later in life. I have posted on this before, and it has been a subject of much debate.

**drom** · 09-26-07, 10:33 AM

When we had our first meeting with Dr. Motzer and he gave us all the grim news I asked him how did Alex get this. He looked at me and said "We have no idea". My wife and I didn't like the answer, here was one of the greatest minds in the TC field and he didn't have a clue, nice! As long as he knew how to cure it was out attitude.

I have read every theory and like Dr. Motzer I have no idea, I just want it eradicated!

Domenic

**fuse929** · 09-26-07, 10:44 AM

I've read some interesting papers out of the Netherlands about testicular cancer research....apparently it is a pretty hot topic up there. People from the Netherlands consume a lot more dairy products compared to most other countries, and there are a few studies looking at the effects of dairy and TC. Is overconsumption of dairy a cause of TC? Who knows.

Case and point, doing searches online and reading about TC research from different parts of the world (as well as US research) can help to give a better scientific understanding of the current methodologies associated with the many potential causes of TC.

**Jay68442** · 09-26-07, 10:48 AM

It would be nice if the answer was as simple as the choices given above.

**Physast** · 09-26-07, 11:43 AM

yeah This is in no way scientific, but I thought it would be fun and maybe interesting to see some link between all of us and the above questions.

Two that I did not mention above that I should have would have been.

1. HPV: If it can cause cervical cancer why not testicular cancer? Of course I do not know that facts about this. And HPV is almost impossible to detect on men.

2. Stress/depression which RTC had mentioned. I just finished my masters thesis in Astrophysics and have been giving talks to find a new job. So I was under lots of stress for the past year. and I have been taking medications for depression for the past 8 years. Depression and stress related issues are about the same.

**Fed** · 09-26-07, 12:17 PM

Originally posted by Physast

1. HPV: If it can cause cervical cancer why not testicular cancer? Of course I do not know that facts about this. And HPV is almost impossible to detect on men.

In order to show that a virus is the cause of the cancer, you need to see its genome integrated into the DNA of the infected cell. This is only the case with cervical cancer, and, as far as I know, there are no other human cancers that have been attributed to a viral infection.

Originally posted by Physast

2. Stress/depression which RTC had mentioned. I just finished my masters thesis in Astrophysics and have been giving talks to find a new job. So I was under lots of stress for the past year. and I have been taking medications for depression for the past 8 years. Depression and stress related issues are about the same.

This reason doesn't seem too convincing to me because I don't see how stress can cause insults to the genome that would give rise to a malignancy.

**Mom** · 09-26-07, 01:29 PM

I do not think that stress causes cancer but I believe it lowers the immune system to the extent it allows an environment where cancer has more of a chance to take root. 25 years ago my husband's doctor believed that TC originated in the womb and laid dormant until it manifested years later. However there were risk factors, text book risk factors, that were not shared with the community at large (us), one of them was an undecended testicle and another was a low sperm count, now I firmly believe due to my son's TC there is a genetic factor. I agree with Margaret too. I think we will find later that a hernia at birth is also a risk factor. My son had no risk factors other than his father genes. I don't think there is a question that the environment and life style are also factors in getting cancer as a whole but not necessarily TC, although most of my young neighbors would not think of putting fertilizer on their grass!

**Physast** · 09-26-07, 01:41 PM

I agree that stress would probably lower your immune system and cause problems. Good point on the HPV, I didn't know that about the cervical cancer.

It is interesting to note that so far out of the 8 votes no one has said anything about undescended testicle (one of the only possible causes). Maybe because no one ever told us when we were young. Again I know nothing about this so maybe it's something that most people never knew they had unless you get surgery to fix it.

Has anyone seen any articles about the cancer having to do with starting in the womb. Maybe something to do with smoking while pregnant..

**Russell's Mom** · 09-26-07, 02:56 PM

My mind has been preoccupied with th P450 CYP1B1 enzyme...tangerine peels lately. About the time Russell would have started to grow the cancer, he was living on his own, away from home, eating pizza and working in a coffee shop. I am sure the early "away from home" saw plenty of beers etc. The enzyme is used to break down toxins. Thoughts come to mind if he "drained the tank" on his ability to fight the disease. I also find it interesting how history repeats itiself. Before Polio was discovered, people went to odd thoughts wondering about the disease. Who would have ever thought...pond water. Maybe we need to think more simplistic. I'm glad to have this opportunity to vent. Hope we get to know in our life time. As the history of medicine has shown however...something new will sprout. Keeps us growing strong right along side of it however!! Sharon

**metsscotty** · 09-26-07, 03:02 PM

When I was diagnosed, the doctor said it was most likely a result of the scar tissue that I had when I had surgery for an undescended testicle. At the time, the stas were that the likelyhood of getting TC was increased 900%. Of course, that was the knowledge at the time. It seems there has been a lot more research into in the last 15 yrs.

**veryworriedmom** · 09-29-07, 05:15 PM

When my son was an infant, the pediatrician mentioned he had an undescended testicle. said if it didn't come down itself they would do it surgically and nothing to be concerned about. It did come down on its own and we never thought about it until the TC diagnosis where it was mentioned as a possible cause.

Grew up with or have been subjected to abnormal amounts of second hand smoke.	16.28%	7 votes
Live or have lived in a high pollution city for many years (ie.. Atlanta, LA, DC)	6.98%	3 votes
Spend roughly an hour in congested highway traffic 4 or more times a week.	4.65%	2 votes
Have had high amounts of lead in your drinking water at one point in time.	2.33%	1 vote
Had or did have an undescended testicle.	2.33%	1 vote
Kicked or had other frequent groan trama from sports or other causes.	9.30%	4 votes
Drink more than one glass of milk daily including your cereal.	13.95%	6 votes
Eat out more than three times a week.	13.95%	6 votes
Wear Boxers (non tight supportive underwear).	13.95%	6 votes
Wear breifs (tight or supportive underware).	16.28%	7 votes

Announcement

What caused us to get TC?

What caused us to get TC?

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