Gopala Kovvali
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Carcinogenesis, Founder President, Carcinogenesis Foundation, 22 Heritage Drive, Edison, NJ 08820, USA
DOI: 10.1186/1477-3163-5-7
ABSTRACT
On behalf of the editorial board of JC and my own behalf I wish the carcinogenesis research community a Happy and Healthy 2006.
Several publications in the Journal of Carcinogenesis and other related journals during 2005 shed light on cancer causing aspects and mechanisms of various diets and carcinogens present in them. I want to share three incidents that occurred in 2005 that made me think seriously.
In the beginning of 2005, a Chinese friend of mine told me with sadness that his sister had lung cancer and was undergoing a surgery. She was 53 years old. He was very anxious to know if surgery could help. She lives in China and never smoked a cigarette.
In the middle of July I heard that my friend’s father had lung cancer. He was 60 years old. My immediate reaction was ‘that is sad, does he smoke’. My friend told me that he smoked when he was young. Before I could digest that information, I heard of the death of my friend’s father.
I got a call from my friend during early January 2006. After exchanging pleasantries and New Year greetings, I asked how his parents were whom I met couple of months ago. I was shocked to hear that his mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. I did not ask if she smoked as it is a rare habit among middle class traditional women in India. I recall the active and healthy looking person in her late 50’s with whom I shared a table at a party not too long ago. Read more…