(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People who face psychological stress like famine or
prolonged mental stress may have a higher risk of developing cancer.
A recent study shows Jewish survivors of World War II who may have been exposed
to the Holocaust have a significantly increased risk for developing all types of
cancer.
Lital Keinan-Baker, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., of the School of Public Health at the
University of Haifa in Israel, and colleagues took a group of 300,000 Israeli
Jews and grouped them by immigration dates into Israel; during or before World
War II and after World War II to 1989.
Likely exposure to the Holocaust increased the risk for overall cancer for all
ages and both sexes. Researchers found the strongest associations to be with
breast and colorectal cancer. Researchers also noted the younger the survivor at
the time of exposure, the higher the risk of developing cancer later in life.
“These observations may have direct impact on the health of World War II Jewish
survivors and thus the care required from their caregivers in Israel and
elsewhere," the authors were quoted as saying. “These findings warrant further
epidemiological studies (such as case-control studies) of past and present risk
factors that use individual data."
SOURCE: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, October 26, 2009
