Weather
Marijuana Use Tied to Testicular Cancer in Young Men, Cocaine Use Linked to Risk ReductionRelated Content
Photo Credit: Courtesy of wikipedia.com (CBS News) Marijuana smoking may lead some men to develop especially serious types of testicular cancer, a new study finds. The study - published online September 10 in the American Cancer Society's journal, Cancer - suggests that not only recreational pot-use but medicinal marijuana-smoking may be risky for young males. Researchers from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles surveyed 163 young men diagnosed with testicular cancer on their past drug use and compared that data to self-reported histories from 292 healthy men of the same age and ethnicities. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men between 15 and 34, according to the Mayo Clinic, despite being considered rare compared to other types of cancer. There are two main types of testicular cancer: nonseminomas, which are thought to be more aggressive, develop earlier and grow and spread more rapidly and seminomas, which aren't as aggressive and respond better to radiation treatments. The USC researchers found that men who had a history of smoking pot were more than twice as likely to have nonseminoma testicular cancer or another subtype called mixed germ cell tumors, which like nonseminomas, are linked to a worse prognosis. "The group that is at risk for developing these tumors is overwhelmingly young men," study author Dr. Victoria Cortessis, assistant professor of preventive medicine at USC's Keck School of Medicine, told NBCNews.com. The researchers weren't certain what explained this effect, but speculate marijuana may act on the body's cellular network that responds to marijuana, the endocannabinoid system, that is tied to the sperm production. Cocaine use on the other hand was tied to a reduced risk of these types of testicular cancer, leading researchers to conclude that cocaine may destroy sperm-producing sperm cells tied to cancer growth. But the researchers certainly don't recommend that men start using cocaine to reduce their testicular cancer risk. "If this is correct, then 'prevention' would come at a high price," Cortessis said in a press release, adding that cocaine use could damage fertility. Dr. Donald Abrams, professor of clinical medicine at the University of California-San Francisco, was not convinced of marijuana's link to testicular cancer, telling HealthDay that if true, there should have been spikes in the disease among California males during the 1960s and 70s but there were no such reported rate increases. "If there were a true cause-and-effect relationship, one would see blips in testicular cancer rates associated with greater use of cannabis," he said. |
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
|
You have indicated this comment should be removed.
The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .
Truth said on Monday, Sep 10 at 9:01 AM
and breathing the air will kill you just as fast, bud is not a killer.
101509076Anonymous said on Monday, Sep 10 at 9:09 AM
I for one would like to see the research paper, who did it, where it was conducted, how it was conducted time, and length of it. This sounds like the government trying to take medical mj away from people. There is proof from Canada that the consitutents in marijuana prevent brain tumors and can help get rid of them. There is too much proof that it is good for cancer and other diseases.
101509825Anonymous said on Monday, Sep 10 at 9:18 AM
and so far as kids go - I would rather have a kid smoke weed and sleep from too much pot - wake up hungry and eats like no tomorrow? what happens when it's meth or coke or heroin? I don't think you wake up...yeah I want a report of what it does that is good? and the discovery channel has intel on the eatables...not smoking it and clogging the lungs!
101510576badandy said on Monday, Sep 10 at 9:37 AM
I call BS
101512656Whatever! From Dlg, Alaska said on Monday, Sep 10 at 9:48 AM
Marijuana is a cure for cancer, been proven to cure it! Leave it alone and go after the heroine and cocaine users! Enough said good day.
101513486pionyr17 said on Monday, Sep 10 at 1:32 PM
they dont say squat about the kids dying like flies from pills and heroin and fake drugs... not a word.picking on pot....shameful and cowardly.
101529611weirdscientists? said on Monday, Sep 10 at 3:22 PM
drugs don't directly cause cancer...but most drug users don't care about themself or anyone or anything around them, all drugs destroy the users' insides but it is the mix of other bad personal habits, and sometimes family history of cancer, that causes cancer.
101535926Einstone69 said on Sunday, Oct 28 at 3:25 PM
I am stoned right now and happy
105048366lol...are you kidding me? said on Wednesday, Oct 31 at 9:42 AM
Scientist: don't smoke pot - use cocaine...so how much of that is a kick back from the border patrol and those missed opportunities for an arrest? Gee not enough coke in the USA anymore? Americans: can we see that "scientific study"?
105289941pot cures cancer said on Thursday, Nov 8 at 12:47 AM
bollocks, google pot cures cancer,
106054661Add a comment
Most Popular