# Gary Carter's brain cancer **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 5, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-carters-brain-cancer/584456 "2011-06-05T23:11:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-carters-brain-cancer/584456/1 "2011-06-05T23:11:54Z")
Has a link of collisions playing catcher/balls off the mask been linked to his cancer? ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-carters-brain-cancer/584456/2 "2011-06-05T23:24:38Z")
I have not heard of any link between repetitive trauma and risk of cancer… just CTE… ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-carters-brain-cancer/584456/3 "2011-06-05T23:27:57Z")
You might build a case for a concussion, but not cancer. Of course if he was talking on a cell phone while catching, then you have a launching point. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-carters-brain-cancer/584456/4 "2011-06-05T23:30:29Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > I have not heard of any link between repetitive trauma and risk of cancer… just CTE… Agreed…head trauma can certainly cause other issues, but I’ve not heard anyone (other than in this thread) posit that there might be a connection in this case. Carter has [glioblastoma](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glioblastoma). According to Wikipedia, while there are [a number of theories](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glioblastoma#Causes) regarding the causes of this form of cancer, most of the theories seem to surround either viral exposure, genetic disorders, or other environmental exposures. Also, Carter’s demographics alone (white male, over age 50) are, themselves, indicators. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-carters-brain-cancer/584456/5 "2011-06-06T00:17:30Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Agreed…head trauma can certainly cause other issues, but I’ve not heard anyone (other than in this thread) posit that there might be a connection in this case. > > Carter has [glioblastoma](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glioblastoma). According to Wikipedia, while there are [a number of theories](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glioblastoma#Causes) regarding the causes of this form of cancer, most of the theories seem to surround either viral exposure, genetic disorders, or other environmental exposures. > > Also, Carter’s demographics alone (white male, over age 50) are, themselves, indicators. Cool! I thought maybe cancer may be a result of blows to the head. I’ve of course heard the CTE link. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-carters-brain-cancer/584456/6 "2011-06-06T03:39:08Z")
link to news article: [Former Met Gary Carter has Aggressive Brain Cancer](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/01/sports/baseball/former-met-gary-carter-has-aggressive-brain-cancer.html).