Day 265 - 19 Jun 96 - Page 11
1 Walter Willett, who has published prolifically on the
2 subject, whose findings have been cited in this case would,
3 if called, agree with this account. Evidence on fat and
4 colo-rectal cancer now is much the same as it was five or
5 ten years ago."
6
7 Now, of those relating to fat and breast cancer what
8 is your view? You have put three explanations; what is
9 your view on the relationship between fat and breast
10 cancer?
11 A. Well, I think one of the reasons why people in the
12 field now will say that the area is controversial is
13 because there are those three explanations, any of which is
14 consistent with the evidence. It is true to say that
15 Professor Willett who, as the Court may have heard,
16 emphatically believes as a leading scientist in the field
17 that fat is not related to breast cancer at all, although
18 he always qualifies that judgment in any written statement
19 in the way that I have indicated here. I know that to be
20 true anyway, because I have discussed this issue with
21 Walter Willett frequently myself.
22
23 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I cannot take that into account.
24
25 MR. RAMPTON: This problem attaches to the whole -- I have just
26 read through --
27
28 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I know it does, but I am not prepared to
29 exclude it. But I cannot have a witness, Mr. Morris,
30 telling me what some expert has said to him. It just is
31 not admissible.
32
33 MS STEEL: We had Miss Pearce telling us what some inspector had
34 told her.
35
36 MR. JUSTICE BELL: No, no. That was completely different.
37
38 MS STEEL: Why?
39
40 MR. JUSTICE BELL: That was for the fact that it was said, for
41 whatever that might be worth. This could only be adduced
42 in the hope that it would go to the truth.
43
44 MR. MORRIS: Mr. Cannon, what is your view on the relationship
45 between fat, or indeed diet, and breast cancer?
46 A. My own opinion is that the explanation which is most
47 consistent with the facts, or with the evidence, is that
48 the main determinant of diet on breast cancer, and
49 specifically fat on breast cancer, is diets eaten in early
50 life.
51
52 Q. Right. What we have heard to be the age of menarche, the
53 effect on the age of menarche, or is it more than?
54 A. Relatively early menarche is an established respecter
55 for breast cancer, yes. The issue there is whether that is
56 in any sense diet related.
57
58 Q. So what is your view?
59 A. Yes, it is, because evidence from all over the world
60 indicates that on a population basis age of menarche, which
