# Tumor burgers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 4, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029 "2019-06-04T18:14:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/41 "2019-06-05T21:39:18Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > A pathologist, actually. > > I’ve examined/handled/processed thousands of tumors over the years. None of them impressed me as potential meal items, but we live in strange times. Think of the thousands of dollars you’re missing out on by not selling the delicacy of human tumor meat on the black market! I have to give props to the OP, this threat is freakin disgusting and I’m amazed it’s still on GQ. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/42 "2019-06-05T21:42:40Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > Think of the thousands of dollars you’re missing out on by not selling the delicacy of human tumor meat on the black market! > > I have to give props to the OP, this threat is freakin disgusting and I’m amazed it’s still on GQ. Should it go in Cafe Society? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/43 "2019-06-05T22:09:42Z")
> [@naita](#): > > Swallow saliva. According to George Carlin, swallowing saliva causes stomach cancer, but only if swallowed in small amounts over a very long period of time. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/44 "2019-06-05T22:37:34Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > You’re ignoring the fact that the proposal doesn’t call for the tumors to be harvested directly into a McDonald’s kitchen, but collected, and placed into meat-growing vats. > > But cost would still be an issue, particularly in the USA, where an uninsured patient is on the hook for $10,000 - $20,000 for a lumpectomy. I have a high-deductible plan, and paid $5,000 in both 2017 and 2018 until I met my deductibles both years. Fortunately, I did have the money, and it was totally worth it. I’m also a participant in the CPS-3 study and signed up years before my breast cancer diagnosis. In the meantime, I let them know about it, and they sent me a packet of paperwork allowing them to access my medical records and authorizing the hospital to send them a sample of my tumor. I also had to sign a box stating that I am aware that the tissue will not be used for human cloning; apparently, a rumor got started that this was really what the study was all about. > **[Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3)](https://www.cancer.org/research/cps3-cancer-prevention-study-3.html)** > > Our Epidemiology Research Program team is inviting people between ages 30-65 with no personal history of cancer to join the Cancer Prevention Study-3. Learn more. I’ve always heard that hunters and fisherman are supposed to discard any animal that shows signs of cancer while being dressed out. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/45 "2019-06-05T22:41:00Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > According to George Carlin, swallowing saliva causes stomach cancer, but only if swallowed in small amounts over a very long period of time. Saliva is mostly composed of dihydrogen monoxide. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/46 "2019-06-05T22:43:50Z")
Why wouldn’t this thread still be here? We don’t have any rules against disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/47 "2019-06-05T23:24:32Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I have a high-deductible plan, and paid $5,000 in both 2017 and 2018 until I met my deductibles both years. Fortunately, I did have the money, and it was totally worth it. If they grew tumorburgers from your breast cancer, you’d get a royalty on each Nearwildheaven-burger™. If those are a hit, they could pay off your deductibles and then some. You’d be rich and famous. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/48 "2019-06-06T00:02:39Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > Think of the thousands of dollars you’re missing out on by not selling the delicacy of human tumor meat on the black market! And think of the black market money lost because of the silly ethics of obstetricians & Jewish _mohels_! But many males would prefer no one develops a taste for this – puts one in mind of the old joke about African Roulette. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/49 "2019-06-06T01:05:53Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > If they grew tumorburgers from your breast cancer, you’d get a royalty on each Nearwildheaven-burger™. If those are a hit, they could pay off your deductibles and then some. You’d be rich and famous. But you have to make sure to be the first one to sign up and get your meat on the market. The price will nosedive after that. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/50 "2019-06-06T06:00:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Why wouldn’t this thread still be here? We don’t have any rules against disgusting. Because there’s no factual answer for it, besides the obvious, which is almost no one wants to eat human tumor meat. I mean, they say no question is stupid but come on. Most people would find it disgusting and that is hardly debatable. The idea that there FDA would even look into this is laughable. It would require a sea change in attitudes about cannibalism before we even got to the potential health risks. The reasons why almost everyone would find it disgusting is debatable but I is more ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/51 "2019-06-06T12:04:29Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > If they grew tumorburgers from your breast cancer, you’d get a royalty on each Nearwildheaven-burger™. If those are a hit, they could pay off your deductibles and then some. You’d be rich and famous. I wouldn’t count on it. The [HeLa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeLa) cell line’s donor, [Henrietta Lacks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks) – or rather her estate – didn’t get squat. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/52 "2019-06-06T12:36:40Z")
But nothing is stopping them from growing their own HeLa cultures and starting a chain of restaurants. Once you’ve had Lacks, you’ll never go back (to McDonald’s.) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/53 "2019-06-06T12:47:16Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > I wouldn’t count on it. The [HeLa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeLa) cell line’s donor, [Henrietta Lacks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks) – or rather her estate – didn’t get squat. Then get a contract before they take the tissue sample. Geez, do I have to think of everything? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/54 "2019-06-06T13:48:37Z")
Today only at Lumpy’s! Buy one and get tumor free! ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/55 "2019-06-06T13:48:55Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > Because there’s no factual answer for it, besides the obvious, which is almost no one wants to eat human tumor meat. I mean, they say no question is stupid but come on. Most people would find it disgusting and that is hardly debatable. The idea that there FDA would even look into this is laughable. It would require a sea change in attitudes about cannibalism before we even got to the potential health risks. > > The reasons why almost everyone would find it disgusting is debatable but I is more How is that an obvious answer to the questions in the OP? “Would it be possible to just take leftover tumors/cancers from patients and grow them in petri dishes into burgers? Do tumor cells taste similar to other meats?” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/56 "2019-06-06T14:18:02Z")
_Holds up lymphoma_ _Makes threatening gesture at **Hypno-Toad** _ ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/57 "2019-06-06T21:29:02Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > If they grew tumorburgers from your breast cancer, you’d get a royalty on each Nearwildheaven-burger™. If those are a hit, they could pay off your deductibles and then some. You’d be rich and famous. 😛 Gross. FTR, mine was detected on a mammogram; it was too small to feel even though it was right under the skin. Hey, HeLa cells don’t stop growing. I’ll refrain from commenting further in the event that any member of Henrietta Lacks’ family sees this. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/58 "2019-06-07T05:14:58Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Hey, HeLa cells don’t stop growing. I’ll refrain from commenting further in the event that any member of Henrietta Lacks’ family sees this. But for years, chicken & turkey producers have been breeding based on the clear American buyers preference for white meat, especially breast meat. So would HeLa hamburgers really sell? ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/59 "2019-06-07T13:32:07Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > But for years, chicken & turkey producers have been breeding based on the clear American buyers preference for white meat, especially breast meat. So would HeLa hamburgers really sell? Dude. _shaking my head_ ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029/60 "2019-06-08T03:28:39Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > But for years, chicken & turkey producers have been breeding based on the clear American buyers preference for white meat, especially breast meat. So would HeLa hamburgers really sell? Henrietta Lacks’ cancer originated in her cervix, not her breast. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tumor-burgers/835029.md?page=4)