Marijuana Increases Risk Of Testicular Cancer

· According to a recent study published in the journal Cancer, an increase in the risk of developing testicular cancer was linked to marijuana use.
· The author of the study reports that the risk of developing testicular cancer was doubled in marijuana users who smoked at least once a week and or had a long history of smoking compared with men who never smoked marijuana.
· The cancer risk was limited to the subgroup testicular ‘nonseminoma’ cancer which, is the fastest growing testicular cancer and usually develops in young men between 20 to 35 years of age.
· The incidence of testicular cancer has been increasing by up to 6% each year since the 1950s in the United States. Simultaneously, there has been a steady increase in marijuana use.

· According to the researchers:

Chronic marijuana exposure has multiple adverse effects on the endocrine and reproductive systems, primarily decreased sperm quality. Other possible effects include decreased testosterone and male impotency. Because male infertility and poor semen quality also have been linked to an increased risk of testicular cancer, this further reinforced the researchers’ hypothesis that marijuana use may be a risk factor for the disease.

· The risk of testicular cancer was increased by 70% in men who were current users of marijuana at the time of diagnosis.

· The study took place in the Seattle Washington area and included men 18-44 years of age.

· Researchers report that this is the first study linking marijuana use and testicular cancer.

Reference
Cancer. 2009 Feb 9.[PMID: 19204904]

February 5, 2009

Posted on February 5, 2009

Leave a Reply