Cancer and diabetes: one may follow the other

Cancer and diabetes: one follows the other

Cancer and diabetes may be closely linked than earlier thought according to present studies. One of these reports from the National Cancer Institute shows that diabetes tends to increase the risk of cancer.

Diabetes is a chronic disease with many co-morbidities. People with diabetes often also deal with other health issues such as kidney problems, loss of vision, stroke and heart attack.

But the new study about cancer and diabetes shows that men with diabetes have a 17 percent increased likelihood of dying from cancer while women have an 11 percent heightened risk.

Data from about 500,000 people aged between 50 and 71 years old were examined for the study  which was presented at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Researchers found that not only did diabetes upped the risk of dying from cancer but individuals diagnosed with diabetes also tend to receive a diagnosis of cancer as well.

The link between cancer and diabetes was more pronounced among women than men. Women with diabetes were likely to have anal, stomach and endometrial cancers. Men with diabetes meanwhile, were at an increased risk of bladder and pancreatic cancers.

For both men and women with diabetes, there was an increased risk for developing liver, colon and rectal cancers.

The cancer and diabetes study did not differentiate the risk between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Health experts have long established the many benefits of avoiding diabetes. The new report seems to add having a diminished chance of getting cancer to that list of health benefits.

Physicians and patients have also long known that diabetes can increase the risk of cancer. But the National Cancer Institute study is the largest and strongest evidence yet about the link between cancer and diabetes.

Posted by George Daniels on Thursday April 07 2011, 2:01 AM EST. Ref: NYT. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0