* Posts by Mars Expert 888

3 publicly visible posts • joined 10 Jun 2017

Going to Mars may give you cancer, warns doc

Mars Expert 888

Re: Risk of cancer doubles?

Actually it doubles from 6 to 12 percent and you would die of cancer in your early 60's if you came back from Mars at age 45. It could be a very aggressive cancer with little hope of cure. Also 12% for dying of occupational cancer, and >20% of getting cancer.

Mars Expert 888

Re: Duh...

More like 12% probability of radiation caused early death (about 20 years early). In late 1950's every other rocket blew up at launch. But then NASA invested big dollars to make it safe. So probability went from about 50% to current 1 in 240 chance.

Maybe they should do that for radiation rather than accept a 12% occupational fatality risk!

Mars Expert 888

Re: Risk of cancer doubles?

Nope from 6 percent to 12% for death and double for getting a radiation induced cancer. These cancers occur earlier in life than background types and are more aggressive. So if 6 person Mars crew one dies in their early 60's from space radiation and 1 other gets a radiation cancer but treatment is successful. So not quite a one-way mission for the 4 persons not impacted. Maybe invest in development of countermeasures to lower the 12% a bit would be smart.

But their cognition including memory are degraded also from space radiation so may not remember they went to Mars 10 to 20 years earlier.