Why Don’t Whales Get Cancer?


Bowhead whales live for 100 to 200 years but have a low rate of cancer. Scientists are homing in on one of medicine’s most baffling mysteries: why some species avoid getting cancers while others are plagued by tumours that shorten their lives. Whales tend to have low rates of cancer but it is the leading cause of death for dogs and cats. Foxes and leopards are susceptible while sheep and antelopes are not. Bats are also relatively well protected against cancer but not mice or rats. In humans, cancer is a leading cause of death that kills around 10 million people a year. What are your thoughts LiveTribers? Why don’t whales get cancer?

Posted by on 05 Jun 2023

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  • [0] [0]
    MS

    They are probably genetically programmed to not get it, unlike humans and pets. Humans and pets don't always have the best diet.

    Posted by MS on 17 Nov 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    yelsha42

    Could be they have a healthier lifestyle

    Posted by yelsha42 on 17 Oct 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    kendallx3

    Much stronger creature

    Posted by kendallx3 on 17 Oct 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    eric

    maybe their immune is different

    Posted by eric on 26 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Elloura

    that's so interesting, i didn't know that- maybe because of the large amount of fat?

    Posted by Elloura on 26 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    Lee1

    High stress can often be a common contributor to cancer so maybe whales don't suffer stress.

    Posted by Lee1 on 26 Jun 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    TonyLT

    They eat a balanced diet and their life style is pretty much constant without much change.

    Posted by TonyLT on 26 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    sandra

    I think I agree with Busy Bee, that there might be a connection with eating red meat. It certainly seems to be a factor. I eat meat but not a lot (it's expensive!) so perhaps a good thing.

    Posted by sandra on 26 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Jay

    I reckon whales are too big to have cancer, they might have a small tumor, but it is so small compared to their body size, it would do any actual damage. As for mice or rats, they only tend to live short life, too short to have cancer grow big.

    Posted by Jay on 20 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Busy Bee

    They don't eat red meat.

    Posted by Busy Bee on 20 Jun 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Miro

    Maybe it also has something to do with healthy diet - of mostly krill?

    Posted by Miro on 20 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Jibberman

    Just to know this about whales is amazing. They are lucky creatures.

    Posted by Jibberman on 20 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Guntis

    They don't smoke.

    Posted by Guntis on 18 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    DDTT

    They don't have any additives in their food at all including spices and herbs

    Posted by DDTT on 14 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Laavanya

    According to molecular analysis, it is evident that whales have a high gene mutation rate. Therefore, they have lots of cancer suppression genes. Therefore, whales are less likely to get cancer

    Posted by Laavanya on 07 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    mact

    Who knows but research might give up secrets but diet, lifestyle and genes are most likely why some humans succumb and some don't .......bit of a lottery really.

    Posted by mact on 06 Jun 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Sammbo

    They don't smoke.

    Posted by Sammbo on 06 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    Zi

    Dude, it's not the cancer prevents you from living 100 years. It's the ageing of your organs. If you keeps transplanting your ageing organs without complication, you can live thousands of years.

    Posted by Zi on 06 Jun 2023
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  • [2] [0]
    Paula

    I guess it's no different for humans. The Japanese suffer stomach cancer but very little cases of breast cancer. Jewish women tend not to suffer from cervical cancer. Appendicitis is rarely seen in mainland China but Chinese in the western world have the same rates as others. I think it's all down to lifestyle, diet and environmental reasons.

    Posted by Paula on 05 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Rossrooster

    Because they swim every day, don't eat red meat, get on with their neighbours and don't have to drive during peak hour.

    Posted by Rossrooster on 05 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    sulter

    Perhaps it's the krill they eat?

    Posted by sulter on 05 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    oldngrey

    No idea, maybe it is because they have a lot of fish in their diets. ??

    Posted by oldngrey on 05 Jun 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    ere

    Most likely because they don't have stupid forum questions to answer.

    Posted by ere on 07 Jun 2023
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