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Asked by u11allanl to Debbie, Glyn, Jon, Kat, Nicola on 11 Mar 2013.
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Nicola Fletcher answered on 11 Mar 2013:
My mum asked me that a year ago, and I have no good answer. My first thought is ‘no’ but some viruses cause cancer so could it be true that if you work with some cancers you are more likely to develop cancer? What does anyone else think?
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Kathryn McMahon answered on 11 Mar 2013:
I think for me, working with cancer makes me less likely to get it, as it makes me far more aware of how it affects people and what I can do to try and reduce my chances of getting it. I don’t smoke, drink alcohol only moderately, eat plenty of fruit and veg and always wear sunscreen when in the sun (I’m very pale!). Although I work with radiation and some nasty chemicals, my risk of getting cancer from these is much, much lower than if I just sunbathed on a regular basis. We have lots of equipment and clothing to protect us from cancer causing things that we might work with. Nicola, I guess you’d have to use cancer causing viruses in a big fancy hood (they’re like big, see through boxes, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosafety_cabinet ), so you shouldn’t be in contact with them? The government has strict laws about working with anything that is known to cause cancer.
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Jonathan Stone answered on 11 Mar 2013:
Very interesting question…but I am the wrong person to ask…I am as interested as knowing the answer as you are!!
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Glyn Barrett answered on 11 Mar 2013:
One of the most important things which people are taught when they begin to work in the lab is safety. There are loads n loads of rules which must be followed and lots of tools, equipment and machinery in labs which prevent people from being put at risk. Most scientists stick to these rules as it would be silly not to. So its quite unlikely.
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