Link Between Asthma/ Lung Cancer

Researchers in Sweden have uncovered a link between Asthma and levels of lung cancer. The researchers followed 100,000 patients over 30 years after they had been diagnosed with asthma. The results revealed asthmatics were 58% more likely to develop lung cancer than the general population.

Although no causal factors could be identified, researchers focused on smoking as a potential link, noting that the types of lung cancer found in asthmatics were similar to those found in smokers.

Dr Paolo Boffetta of the Unit of Environmental Cancer Epidemiology, the international Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyons, France commented, "We do not really know if Asthma as such causes the increased risk. There could be one mechanism causing both Asthma and Cancer, for example chronic inflammation leading to an excess of free radicals.

Saturday, 2 February 2002