Copper water pipes increase growth of some cancers/BRAF-positive cancers

FWIW –

I question the sources where this theory comes from.  None of the sites listed at the bottom come from "established" research peer reviewed articles but from "natural / alternative" sites.  For starters.  Duke on the otherhand has an excellent research department.

How exactly does cancer "breathe".  This casts further doubt on the validity of the work unless the mechanism of action has been studied, and the breathing thing used to try to bring it down to a layperson's level of understanding.

Using rats alone in a cancer study doesn't count because any rat over 2 years of age without a cancerous tumor is a miracle in and of itself.  (I am a veterinarian so know how exteremly common it is).  The animal model being used needs to be judiciously selected as a result.  The Seralini study feeding GMOs to rats is a classic example of bad scientific technique and conclusions.  Unfortunately it is still being quoted by activists to push their anti-science stance.  That is a different topic though.

Don't forget about sample size and how statistics were applied.

I can understand a possible connection between Braf mutated cells somehow requiring an increased metabolic demand for copper versus other cell types.  This should be well documented and studied directly from the reseachers papers.  Please realize that some of the "soft" publications tend to sensationalize findings in order to gain readership, but just short of a tabloid or Dr. on TV thing.

Copper is also essential for proper immune function.  This has been well documented in animal studies.  It is a VERY important trace mineral.  That being said, too much of a good thing is bad.  While goats demand high copper levels, the same levels can kill a sheep in short order.  Wilson's Disease is common in West Highland white terriers and requires chelation therapy & copper reducing drugs.

In summary, I think it is interesting to persue but I question the alamist verbage used by the article's author.  Whenever I hear stuff presented like that I run away as fast as I can.  A key point that seems to be lost on such publications is corelation does not equal causation.  A point to study perhaps, but nothing to hang your hat on just yet.

IMHO

I have seen too much manipulation of data and poor "scientific" research done in the past, for whatever reason.

Thanks for posting though, interesting to see how things pan out on this.

FWIW –

I question the sources where this theory comes from.  None of the sites listed at the bottom come from "established" research peer reviewed articles but from "natural / alternative" sites.  For starters.  Duke on the otherhand has an excellent research department.

How exactly does cancer "breathe".  This casts further doubt on the validity of the work unless the mechanism of action has been studied, and the breathing thing used to try to bring it down to a layperson's level of understanding.

Using rats alone in a cancer study doesn't count because any rat over 2 years of age without a cancerous tumor is a miracle in and of itself.  (I am a veterinarian so know how exteremly common it is).  The animal model being used needs to be judiciously selected as a result.  The Seralini study feeding GMOs to rats is a classic example of bad scientific technique and conclusions.  Unfortunately it is still being quoted by activists to push their anti-science stance.  That is a different topic though.

Don't forget about sample size and how statistics were applied.

I can understand a possible connection between Braf mutated cells somehow requiring an increased metabolic demand for copper versus other cell types.  This should be well documented and studied directly from the reseachers papers.  Please realize that some of the "soft" publications tend to sensationalize findings in order to gain readership, but just short of a tabloid or Dr. on TV thing.

Copper is also essential for proper immune function.  This has been well documented in animal studies.  It is a VERY important trace mineral.  That being said, too much of a good thing is bad.  While goats demand high copper levels, the same levels can kill a sheep in short order.  Wilson's Disease is common in West Highland white terriers and requires chelation therapy & copper reducing drugs.

In summary, I think it is interesting to persue but I question the alamist verbage used by the article's author.  Whenever I hear stuff presented like that I run away as fast as I can.  A key point that seems to be lost on such publications is corelation does not equal causation.  A point to study perhaps, but nothing to hang your hat on just yet.

IMHO

I have seen too much manipulation of data and poor "scientific" research done in the past, for whatever reason.

Thanks for posting though, interesting to see how things pan out on this.

FWIW –

I question the sources where this theory comes from.  None of the sites listed at the bottom come from "established" research peer reviewed articles but from "natural / alternative" sites.  For starters.  Duke on the otherhand has an excellent research department.

How exactly does cancer "breathe".  This casts further doubt on the validity of the work unless the mechanism of action has been studied, and the breathing thing used to try to bring it down to a layperson's level of understanding.

Using rats alone in a cancer study doesn't count because any rat over 2 years of age without a cancerous tumor is a miracle in and of itself.  (I am a veterinarian so know how exteremly common it is).  The animal model being used needs to be judiciously selected as a result.  The Seralini study feeding GMOs to rats is a classic example of bad scientific technique and conclusions.  Unfortunately it is still being quoted by activists to push their anti-science stance.  That is a different topic though.

Don't forget about sample size and how statistics were applied.

I can understand a possible connection between Braf mutated cells somehow requiring an increased metabolic demand for copper versus other cell types.  This should be well documented and studied directly from the reseachers papers.  Please realize that some of the "soft" publications tend to sensationalize findings in order to gain readership, but just short of a tabloid or Dr. on TV thing.

Copper is also essential for proper immune function.  This has been well documented in animal studies.  It is a VERY important trace mineral.  That being said, too much of a good thing is bad.  While goats demand high copper levels, the same levels can kill a sheep in short order.  Wilson's Disease is common in West Highland white terriers and requires chelation therapy & copper reducing drugs.

In summary, I think it is interesting to persue but I question the alamist verbage used by the article's author.  Whenever I hear stuff presented like that I run away as fast as I can.  A key point that seems to be lost on such publications is corelation does not equal causation.  A point to study perhaps, but nothing to hang your hat on just yet.

IMHO

I have seen too much manipulation of data and poor "scientific" research done in the past, for whatever reason.

Thanks for posting though, interesting to see how things pan out on this.