April fool

In the UK we have a tradition known as April fool. Up until 12:00 on April 1st. it is OK to fool folk with any tall story you like. So here are three cancer related ones. TWO ARE TRUE - ONLY ONE IS A LIE!!!!!

1) More orgasms can protect against breast cancer.

2) You can treat breast cancer successfully with ordinary aspirin.

3) A plumber can fix a blocked toilet with aspirins.

To prove you are not an April fool, which one is untrue?


This last tale comes from our breast surgeon. He got home late one night after a heavy day. Returning at 23:00 he found his toilet blocked. He immediately phoned the plumber who exclaimed, wait till the morning, I am already in bed. No way said the doctor, I am a senior surgeon, I can get called at any time of the day or night to attend to urgent needs. My toilet is in urgent need of unblocking, I need you to come right away.

After 15 or so minutes of complaining the plumber could still not get the arrogant doctor to wait till morning, so reluctantly agreed to call that night. He deliberately drove slowly and reached the doctors house at midnight. Knocking on the door, the doctor answered and ushered him up to the blocked upstairs toilet.

The plumber took two aspirins from his pocket, dropped them into the toilet bowl, and made for the door. As he did so he passed the doctor his bill for a late night call out fee of £70.

But you've done nothing exclaimed the doctor, those aspirin will do nothing!
Oh yes they will said the plumber, if they don't fix the problem within 24 hours call me again and we can try another treatment.

The correct answer is number 3 is untrue, but for the others...

Orgasms are referred to by the BBC here

And for aspirins: Anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin may reduce breast cancer by up to 20 per cent, according to an extensive review carried out by experts at London's Guy's Hospital and published in the March issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

"Our review of research published over the last 27 years suggests that, in addition to possible prevention, there may also be a role for NSAIDs in the treatment of women with established breast cancer" says Professor Ian Fentiman from the Hedley Atkins Breast Unit at the hospital, part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

"Recent studies of NSAIDs use have shown about a 20 per cent risk reduction in the incidence of breast cancer, but this benefit may be confined to aspirin use alone and not other NSAIDs."