Technology / Science
Taller women at greater risk to develop cancer: Study
23 Jul 2011 at 07:32hrs | Views
A new study by University of Oxford researchers suggests that taller women are at greater risk for 10 types of cancers compared with their shorter counterparts.
The study linked 10 cancers to height - colon, rectal, malignant melanoma, breast, endometrial (uterus), ovarian, kidney, lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukaemia.
A woman's chances of developing cancer rose by 16 percent for every extra 10cm (4in) in height, according to the study, which looked at 97,000 women with the disease between 5ft and 5ft 9in tall.
Those in the tallest group, over 5ft 9in, were 37 percent more likely to have developed a tumour than those in the shortest group, under 5ft, the study showed. Published in "The Lancet Oncology", it suggested chemicals that control growth might also affect tumours.
Although the study looked only at women, the researchers said the height link was also present in men.
However, tall people should not take it to heart that much. Sara Hiom of Cancer Research UK said: "Tall people should not be alarmed by these results. Most people are not a lot taller than average, and their height will have only a small effect on their cancer risk."
The study linked 10 cancers to height - colon, rectal, malignant melanoma, breast, endometrial (uterus), ovarian, kidney, lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukaemia.
A woman's chances of developing cancer rose by 16 percent for every extra 10cm (4in) in height, according to the study, which looked at 97,000 women with the disease between 5ft and 5ft 9in tall.
Although the study looked only at women, the researchers said the height link was also present in men.
However, tall people should not take it to heart that much. Sara Hiom of Cancer Research UK said: "Tall people should not be alarmed by these results. Most people are not a lot taller than average, and their height will have only a small effect on their cancer risk."
Source - Xinhuanet
