Testicular cancer risk 'raised by cannabis abuse'

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Home » News » Drugs » Testicular cancer risk 'raised by cannabis abuse'

by Change | 9 Feb 2009

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New research has connected regular cannabis abuse with a higher risk of developing testicular cancer.

Men who engage in cannabis abuse regularly have an increased chance of developing testicular cancers, further increasing the value of rehab treatment, new research shows.

A study published in scientific journal Cancer by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) shows there is a 70 per cent increase in the chances of a user developing the disease.

In those engaging in cannabis abuse once or more a week, or who have had a long-term exposure dating from their adolescence, the risk is twice as high.

The report suggests the connection with this form of substance misuse could be limited to nonseminoma - which makes up 40 per cent of all forms of the cancer.

Stephen Schwartz, an epidemiologist and member of the Public Health Sciences Division at FHCRC, claims the association is especially pronounced in those undergoing puberty, which could make rehab clinics more important at this stage.

He states: “It has been suggested that puberty is a 'window of opportunity' during which lifestyle or environmental factors also can increase the risk of testicular cancer.”

In other news, a recent study published by BMC Public Health found alcohol advertising had a greater impact on young people and could lead to alcohol addiction and abuse.

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