The Mailer Review/Volume 4, 2010/Norman Mailer: From Orgone Accumulator to Cancer Protection for Schizophrenics: Difference between revisions
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Researchers at National Institutes of Mental Health emphasize that many of the genes associated with schizophrenia are the same as those that are associated with cancer, but the disorders use them in opposite ways. While cancer results from changes in the genes that cause the cells to go into {{pg|448|449}} overdrive and multiply rapidly, the same genes cause cells in schizophrenia to slow to a crawl. | Researchers at National Institutes of Mental Health emphasize that many of the genes associated with schizophrenia are the same as those that are associated with cancer, but the disorders use them in opposite ways. While cancer results from changes in the genes that cause the cells to go into {{pg|448|449}} overdrive and multiply rapidly, the same genes cause cells in schizophrenia to slow to a crawl. | ||
Dr. Amanda Law of the University of Oxford, who heads a team at National Institutes of Mental Health, explored specific pathways that cells use | Dr. Amanda Law of the University of Oxford, who heads a team at National Institutes of Mental Health, explored specific pathways that cells use to make basic decisions about their development and their fate. She says,<blockquote>“This is about basic decision making by cells—whether to multiply, move, or change their basic architecture....Cancer and schizophrenia may be strange bedfellows that have similarities at the molecular level. The differences lie in how cells respond to external stimuli: in cancer the molecular system functions to | ||
to make basic decisions about their development and their fate. She says,<blockquote>“This is about basic decision making by cells—whether to multiply, move, or change their basic architecture....Cancer and schizophrenia may be strange bedfellows that have similarities at the molecular level. The differences lie in how cells respond to external stimuli: in cancer the molecular system functions to | |||
speed up the cell and in schizophrenia the system is altered in such a way that causes the cell to slow down.” {{sfn|Genetics|2007}}</blockquote> | speed up the cell and in schizophrenia the system is altered in such a way that causes the cell to slow down.” {{sfn|Genetics|2007}}</blockquote> | ||
Dr. Daniel Weinberger of NIMH says, “It’s very curious that a brain disorder associated with very complicated human behavior has at a genetic and cellular level a striking overlap with cancer, a very non-behavior related disorder. | Dr. Daniel Weinberger of NIMH says, “It’s very curious that a brain disorder associated with very complicated human behavior has at a genetic and cellular level a striking overlap with cancer, a very non-behavior related disorder. | ||
Understanding these pathways might provide us with some new strategies for thinking about cancer.”{{sfn|Reis|2007}} Dr. Weinberger adds that future research involving this information will explore ways to reverse these processes—speeding the system up in schizophrenia and slowing it down in cancer—with implications that may help in the treatment of both diseases. The most advanced research today is attempting to target cancer cells and turn down their genetic instructions to multiply, invade, occupy, and overcome all resistance by using the cell’s own dimmer switch.{{sfn|Dotinga|2008}} Turning | Understanding these pathways might provide us with some new strategies for thinking about cancer.”{{sfn|Reis|2007}} Dr. Weinberger adds that future research involving this information will explore ways to reverse these processes—speeding the system up in schizophrenia and slowing it down in cancer—with implications that may help in the treatment of both diseases. The most advanced research today is attempting to target cancer cells and turn down their genetic instructions to multiply, invade, occupy, and overcome all resistance by using the cell’s own dimmer switch.{{sfn|Dotinga|2008}} Turning down the intensity of uncontrolled growth is a big step towards turning it off. The human cell, with the infinite complexity of its ultramicroscopic components, has been revealing its secrets to scientists who now envision cancer vaccines made of cells from a victim’s own cancer.{{sfn|Reis|2007}} | ||
down the intensity of uncontrolled growth is a big step towards turning it off. The human cell, with the infinite complexity of its ultramicroscopic components, has been revealing its secrets to scientists who now envision | |||
cancer vaccines made of cells from a victim’s own cancer.{{sfn|Reis|2007}} | |||
But what about Mailer’s belief that schizophrenia affords protection from | But what about Mailer’s belief that schizophrenia affords protection from | ||
cancer? Does any substantiation exist? Evidence in a study of the tumor suppressor gene APC (adenomatous polyposis coli), which protects people from cancer growth, indicates a significant association between APC and schizophrenia. This gene is thought to confirm susceptibility to schizophrenia and reduce vulnerability to cancer. {{sfn|Cui|Jiang|Jiang|Xu|Yao|2005|p=675}} | cancer? Does any substantiation exist? Evidence in a study of the tumor suppressor gene APC (adenomatous polyposis coli), which protects people from cancer growth, indicates a significant association between APC and schizophrenia. This gene is thought to confirm susceptibility to schizophrenia and reduce vulnerability to cancer. {{sfn|Cui|Jiang|Jiang|Xu|Yao|2005|p=675}} | ||
However, one fact must not be overlooked. Cancer is a disease of old age, and the mentally ill die earlier than the general population. In the article{{pg|449|450}}“Dying too Young; Cardiovascular Neglect of the Mentally Ill,” we learn that earlier studies of the mentally ill estimated their life spans to average 20% fewer years than the rest of the population. Recent figures vary from state to state, but are alarmingly higher. In Ohio schizophrenics average a loss of thirty-two years of life. As a rule, they take poor care of themselves, have an unhealthy lifestyle, and suffer from metabolic syndrome (idle, overweight, poor nutrition).{{sfn|Nasrallah|2007}} It is possible that many of them do not live long enough to suffer from cancer. Mailer’s newly discovered handwritten hypothesis, which connects “impotent | However, one fact must not be overlooked. Cancer is a disease of old age, and the mentally ill die earlier than the general population. In the article{{pg|449|450}}“Dying too Young; Cardiovascular Neglect of the Mentally Ill,” we learn that earlier studies of the mentally ill estimated their life spans to average 20% fewer years than the rest of the population. Recent figures vary from state to state, but are alarmingly higher. In Ohio schizophrenics average a loss of thirty-two years of life. As a rule, they take poor care of themselves, have an unhealthy lifestyle, and suffer from metabolic syndrome (idle, overweight, poor nutrition).{{sfn|Nasrallah|2007}} It is possible that many of them do not live long enough to suffer from cancer. | ||
emotion” and cancer, draws attention to the feeling we are most likely to label “stress.” The bane of modern humankind, stress causes a myriad of toxic effects. “When the weight of impossible desire is suffered within, the tension becomes acute and the cells live at the edge of rebellion.” According to Mailer, they may “secede from the body or face their death.” It is an impossible situation. “Man is made of mind and body” and Mailer concludes, when the situation “becomes intolerable, either the mind or the body must divide itself from the whole.” {{sfn|Mailer|n.d.}} | |||
Mailer’s newly discovered handwritten hypothesis, which connects “impotent emotion” and cancer, draws attention to the feeling we are most likely to label “stress.” The bane of modern humankind, stress causes a myriad of toxic effects. “When the weight of impossible desire is suffered within, the tension becomes acute and the cells live at the edge of rebellion.” According to Mailer, they may “secede from the body or face their death.” It is an impossible situation. “Man is made of mind and body” and Mailer concludes, when the situation “becomes intolerable, either the mind or the body must divide itself from the whole.” {{sfn|Mailer|n.d.}} | |||
It is interesting that a Dissociative State (a term used in mental illness) can be a temporary condition that follows a period of high stress. It may involve a sudden disappearance which includes travel or wandering and sometimes the establishment of a new identity. The missing period is called a Fugue. The Fugue is followed by a return to normal, often with no memories of the interim. This sounds very much like an “intolerable” situation, perhaps due | It is interesting that a Dissociative State (a term used in mental illness) can be a temporary condition that follows a period of high stress. It may involve a sudden disappearance which includes travel or wandering and sometimes the establishment of a new identity. The missing period is called a Fugue. The Fugue is followed by a return to normal, often with no memories of the interim. This sounds very much like an “intolerable” situation, perhaps due | ||
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* {{cite magazine |last=Bishop |first=J. Michael |authormask=1 |date=2003b |title=What Causes Cancer; Genetic Sloppiness, the Cellular ‘Social Contract’ and Malignancy |magazine=Harvard Magazine ||volume=March-April |pages=49+ |ref=harv }} | * {{cite magazine |last=Bishop |first=J. Michael |authormask=1 |date=2003b |title=What Causes Cancer; Genetic Sloppiness, the Cellular ‘Social Contract’ and Malignancy |magazine=Harvard Magazine ||volume=March-April |pages=49+ |ref=harv }} | ||
* {{cite magazine |last=Bosworth |first=Patricia |date=2008 |title=Mailer’s Movie Madness |magazine=Vanity Fair |pages=397+ |ref=harv }} | * {{cite magazine |last=Bosworth |first=Patricia |date=2008 |title=Mailer’s Movie Madness |magazine=Vanity Fair ||volume=March |pages=397+ |ref=harv }} | ||
* {{cite journal |last1=Cui |first1=D.H. |last2=Jiang |first2=K.D. |last3=Jiang |first3=S.D. |last4=Xu |first4=Y.F. |last5=Yao |first5=H. |date=2005 |title=The Tumor Suppressor Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Gene Is Associated With Susceptibility to Schizophrenia |journal=Molecular Psychiatry ||volume=10.7 |ref=harv }} | * {{cite journal |last1=Cui |first1=D.H. |last2=Jiang |first2=K.D. |last3=Jiang |first3=S.D. |last4=Xu |first4=Y.F. |last5=Yao |first5=H. |date=2005 |title=The Tumor Suppressor Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Gene Is Associated With Susceptibility to Schizophrenia |journal=Molecular Psychiatry ||volume=10.7 |pages=669-677|ref=harv }} | ||
* {{cite magazine |last=Dotinga |first=Randy |date=1 July 2008 |title=Scientists Find Way to Dim Cancer Switch |magazine=The Washington Post |publisher=Washington Post Company |ref=harv }} | * {{cite magazine |last=Dotinga |first=Randy |date=1 July 2008 |title=Scientists Find Way to Dim Cancer Switch |magazine=The Washington Post |publisher=Washington Post Company |ref=harv }} | ||
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* {{cite journal |last1=Hughes |first1=J.R. |last2=Hatsukami |first2=D.K. |last3=Mitchell |first3=J.E. |last4=Dahlgren |first4=L.A. |date=1986 |title=Prevalence of Smoking Among Psychiatric Outpatients |journal=American Journal of Psychiatry ||volume=143.8 |pages=993-997 |ref=harv }} | * {{cite journal |last1=Hughes |first1=J.R. |last2=Hatsukami |first2=D.K. |last3=Mitchell |first3=J.E. |last4=Dahlgren |first4=L.A. |date=1986 |title=Prevalence of Smoking Among Psychiatric Outpatients |journal=American Journal of Psychiatry ||volume=143.8 |pages=993-997 |ref=harv }} | ||
* {{cite book |last=Mailer |first=Norman |date=1988 |chapter=An Interview with Norman Mailer |title=Conversations with Norman Mailer |editor | * {{cite book |last=Mailer |first=Norman |date=1988 |chapter=An Interview with Norman Mailer |title=Conversations with Norman Mailer |editor= J. Michael Lennon |location=Jackson |publisher=UP of Mississippi |pages=39-51|ref=harv }} | ||
* {{cite book |last=Mailer |first=Norman |authormask=1 |date=n.d. |title=Note on Cancer |publisher=Collection of J. Michael Lennon |ref=harv }} | * {{cite book |last=Mailer |first=Norman |authormask=1 |date=n.d. |title=Note on Cancer |publisher=Collection of J. Michael Lennon |ref=harv }} | ||