Men have a higher risk of cancer recurrence than women

According to a new report published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, in the long-term follow-up of 1.5 million cancer patients who had previously been diagnosed with cancer, it was reported that these individuals were more likely to be diagnosed with a different cancer in the coming years than healthy individuals. Emphasizing that the biggest risk factor in the formation of second cancers in the report is continued smoking and being overweight, Anadolu Health Center Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Serdar Turhal said, “It has been reported that men are 11 percent more likely to develop a secondary different cancer compared to healthy individuals, and their probability of death from this cancer is 45 percent higher compared to the general population. In women, this risk was 10 percent and 33 percent, respectively," he said.

Stating that 1992 million individuals who survived cancer between 2017 and 1.54 were observed to reach these results, Anadolu Medical Center Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Serdar Turhal said, “The age of these people was between 20 and 84, and the average age was 60.4. 48.8 percent of the people followed were female, and 81.5 percent were Caucasian. Among the 1 million 537 thousand 101 people watched, 156 thousand 442 people were diagnosed with a different cancer, and 88 thousand 818 people lost their lives due to different cancers.

Those with laryngeal cancer have a higher risk of second cancer

Emphasizing that men diagnosed with laryngeal (larynx) and lymphoma (Hodgkin) cancers, the risk of having a second cancer is very high according to the research, Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Serdar Turhal said, “However, when we look at the death rates, it was seen that men who developed a second cancer after gallbladder cancer had the highest mortality rate. In women, cancers of the larynx and esophagus were also at higher risk of developing a second cancer, and laryngeal cancer patients had the highest death rate when they developed a secondary cancer again. When we look at these cancer-causing risk factors, smoking and obesity were seen as the most effective factors.

Cancer survivors should pay attention to smoking and weight control

Underlining that secondary cancers among smokers are lung cancer, urinary bladder cancer, esophagus cancer and mouth and pharynx cancer, Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Serdar Turhal, “On the other hand, cancers associated with obesity; colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, uterine cancer and liver cancer. These findings are very important for individuals who have recovered from cancer to be more meticulous in complying with healthy living rules such as being at an ideal weight and quitting smoking so that they do not get cancer again in the future.