Good Weekend Talks
Processed meats and cancer: How a shock diagnosis of stage four bowel cancer drove Lucie Morris-Marr to investigate the links
Jan 31, 2025
Lucie Morris-Marr, a journalist and author of "Processed," shares her harrowing journey after being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer at 44. She dives into the alarming links between processed meats and cancer, exposing how nitrites in items like ham and hot dogs are a hidden health risk. Morris-Marr discusses the broader implications of these findings, the challenges of navigating medical advice, and her fight for greater public awareness. Her story is one of resilience, urging listeners to rethink their dietary choices.
30:51
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Quick takeaways
- Lucie Morris-Marr's personal battle with stage 4 bowel cancer highlights the urgent need for public awareness about the health risks of processed meats.
- The processed meat industry's significant economic interests complicate efforts to inform consumers about the serious health dangers linked to nitrates in these products.
Deep dives
The Health Risks of Processed Meats
Processed meats, such as salami, bacon, and hot dogs, have been linked to serious health risks, particularly cancer. Lucy Morris-Marr, a journalist diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, conducted extensive research revealing that nitrates, commonly found in these meats, are associated with a range of serious illnesses, including colorectal cancer. The World Health Organization categorized processed meats as a class one carcinogen, comparable to tobacco and asbestos, in 2015, yet public awareness remains low. Despite the mounting evidence against processed meats, they continue to be a staple in many diets, and the processed meat industry, worth over $4 billion in Australia, has significant incentives to obscure these health risks.
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