Cancer controversies
4 in 10 cancers could be prevented by things such as not smoking, keeping a healthy weight and cutting back on alcohol.
But stories about potential cancer causes are reported widely in the media, and it isn’t always clear which ideas are supported by good evidence.
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Cancer clusters
When someone notices lots of cases of cancer at the same time, it can be worrying. But these are usually down to coincidence.
Cosmetics and toiletries
There’s no good scientific evidence to support a link between cosmetics or toiletries and cancer
Mobile phones, wifi and power lines
Many electronic and communications devices produce non-ionising radiation, which isn’t powerful enough to damage DNA and is unlikely to cause cancer.
Plastic bottles and food containers
There’s no convincing scientific evidence to back up claims that plastic bottles could cause cancer.
Medical scans, air travel and nuclear industries
Medical scans are important, but having scans that your doctor hasn’t recommended can do more harm than good.