Day 035 - 12 Oct 94 - Page 70


     
     1        A.  The fact that some role is played?
     2
     3   Q.   Yes, that is not controversial, is it?
     4        A.  No.
     5
     6   Q.   What might be in dispute is the extent to which hereditary
     7        predispositions to cancer are important?
     8        A.  There are a number of uncertainties about that.  I do
     9        not think anyone believes that heredity is the prime
    10        determinant factor except for a rather small number of
    11        cancers.
    12
    13   Q.   Can you turn, please, to page 20?  This follows on "What
    14        you can do".  In other words, the advice to try and reduce
    15        your risk: "Avoid being overweight, cut down on fats, eat
    16        plenty of fibre, fruit, beans, and peas."  Then comes
    17        this:  "There is, of course, no guarantee that by
    18        following this advice you will protect yourself against
    19        any form of cancer".  That is, perhaps you would agree, an
    20        uncontroversial statement.
    21
    22        Then comes this:  "But you may reduce the risk of some
    23        forms and in any case it is all good advice for your
    24        general health.  It certainly will not do any harm and, in
    25        fact, will probably reduce your risk of heart disease.
    26        The occasional feast will not do you much harm either.  It
    27        is what you eat regularly that counts".  Do you notice a
    28        contrast in emphasis between what is said about the risk
    29        of cancer and diet and what is said about the risk of
    30        heart disease and diet?
    31        A.  It is striking.  Let me read it again to make sure
    32        I am being responsive.  One would have to say that to say
    33        one would probably reduce the risk of heart disease by
    34        eating a diet that one would presume is
    35        high-in-fibre/low-in-fat, low in cholesterol, making other
    36        sensible changes, does suggest that they are being, if
    37        anything, understating the effect of diet, because
    38        I believe we would all quite agree the risk of heart
    39        disease would almost certainly be reduced by such changes.
    40
    41   Q.   Please turn to page 27, which is the last reference I make
    42        today.  There was at one stage in this case -- this
    43        document is not ours; it came from the Defendants -- an
    44        original form of this in which one could see a contrast in
    45        colour.  I do not know where that may have gone.  Can you
    46        please ensure it comes back when Dr. Cannon comes to give
    47        evidence?  It is probably an exhibit and ought to be
    48        strictly -----
    49
    50   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It is badly copied.  It was green up to 
    51        about 35 per cent, I wrote on mine. 
    52 
    53   MR. RAMPTON:  Yes, from somewhere around about two per cent,
    54        I would guess.
    55
    56   THE WITNESS:  I think I can, perhaps, distinguish the line of
    57        demarcation.
    58
    59   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  There is green next to that paragraph
    60        there.  That is the key and this is green up there.

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