Later recurrence and longer survival among obese patients with renal cell carcinoma
Article Abstract:
For many types of cancers, there are known risk factors that increase an individual's chance of developing that cancer. There is a school of though which holds that the same factors that increase a person's risk will also decrease a patient's chance of survival if the cancer does develop. For example, obesity is thought to be a risk factor for breast cancer, and some studies have indicate that obese patients have a poorer survival rate from breast cancer as well. However, there are also indications that this principle may be far from universal. Administration of the female hormone estrogen appears to increase the risk of endometrial cancer, but seems to improve the survival from this same malignancy. A small number of studies have suggested that obesity may be a risk factor for renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer. Therefore, a study was undertaken to determine if obesity plays a role in determining the survival of patients with this cancer. A total of 360 patients with renal cell carcinoma were studied. The body mass index was used as an indicator of obesity. When the body mass index, which is the patient's weight divided by the square of the patient's height, was more than 20 percent above normal, the patient was classed as obese. Among the present group, patients classed as obese in this fashion actually had improved survival. The obese patients had less than half the chance of experiencing a recurrence of kidney cancer, and the chance of death was only 68 percent compared with the non-obese patients. These results indicate that, although obesity may be a risk factor for renal cell carcinoma, the prognosis for obese patients is no worse than that for non-obese patients, and may actually be better. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Cancer
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0008-543X
Year: 1991
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Marijuana smoking and carcinoma of the tongue: is there an association?
Article Abstract:
Marijuana smoking produces a tar burden on the lungs about four times greater than tobacco smoking (on a gram-for-gram basis). Nevertheless, studies of the relationship between marijuana smoking and cancer of the respiratory tract have failed to substantiate a link between the two. Some investigators believe that the apparent difference between the carcinogenic potentials of tobacco and marijuana may result from the smoking techniques used. However, two recent cases suggest that the focus of investigators on the respiratory tract may overlook some of the effects of marijuana smoking. A 52-year-old abalone diver and a 37-year-old surfer developed masses on their tongues, which were diagnosed to be tongue cancer. Both men were heavy marijuana smokers; one patient had smoked about 10 marijuana cigarettes per day for 15 years. In one case, the cancer was deemed incurable and the patient deteriorated rapidly and died. In the second case, a transient response to treatment preceded disease progression and death. A previous report has identified eight cases of cancer of the larynx and tongue among heavy marijuana smokers. The possibility must be considered that, in contrast to tobacco smoke, marijuana smoking may be more likely to produce cancer in the upper airway than in the lungs. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Cancer
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0008-543X
Year: 1990
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