Internecine warfare breaks out on the blog

I have to take issue with the argument that it’s mistaken to believe that it is a matter of chance wherther you get cancer. Granted, this means that you have to interpret “fate” as chance. So I admit that it’s my assumption people who use the word “fate” mean “chance”.   If the belief rests on some predetermined “Kismet” or “destiny” view, then it is indeed blatantly silly. But I take my devil’s advocate role pretty seriously.

My point is that – even cancers caused by heavy irradiation are due to chance, although the chance may approach 100% with regard to certain substances. With most cancers, you can only consider the impact of lifestyle choices statistically. (And having some acquaintance with epidemiology, I can say this is a pretty arcane art).   If 1 in 5 people in continuous long-term contact with substance x get cancer, there is a one in 5 chance that each will contract cancer.  i.e. It’s a matter of luck (chance, fate, or whatever you call mathematically random phenomena).