Montreal Gazette - Joe Schwarcz — My asparagus tip: eating it won't cure cancer

(Chemistry professor Joe Schwarcz): Tens of thousands of highly trained scientists around the world devote their professional lives to cancer research. Equipped with advanced degrees, they toil long hours in research institutes, universities, pharmaceutical companies and government labs.

They explore the causes of cancer, ranging from genetics and poor diet to microbes and environmental pollutants. They study the dozens and dozens of drugs that affect mitosis or DNA synthesis, investigate the effect of hormones and examine the curative possibilities of various mushrooms, herbal extracts, shark cartilage preparations, enemas, "raw food diets," vitamins, enzymes and ozone treatments. They leave no stone unturned.