Kiffen increases the risk of testicular cancer

Can weed increase the risk of testicular cancer?

09/23/2014

Men who smoke fish are at an increased risk for testicular cancer. This is what Professor Boerne claims in the latest Münsteraner „crime scene“ and adds: „There is a study ... “ Since the premiere on Sunday, experts and media are now dealing with the topic and questioning the claim.

Statement of the „crime scene“-Professor is questioned
In the latest Münsteraner „crime scene“ („Murder is the best medicine“) is Professor Boerne, played by Jan Josef Liefers, as a patient on the oncological ward of a clinic and must share the room with a neighbor with testicular cancer. „Cannabis use increases the risk of testicular cancer by up to 70 percent“, the physician says to the bed neighbor and subordinates him, „too much stoned“ to have. „There is a study“, claims the professor. Is that really true, many wonder since the broadcast of the Sunday Crime? Since then, media and experts have been focusing more on the topic.

There are three suitable studies in the literature
The President of the Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe, Dr. med. Windhorst said to the question of „Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung“ (FAZ), whether Boerne's statement is correct: „Definitely no. That's scared. There is no study showing that cannabis could produce testicular cancer.“ But there are other opinions as well. That's the magazine „Mirror online“ researched and found in the literature three studies - all of which were conducted in the US - show that men who consume marijuana, statistically more likely to develop testicular cancer than non-choking peers.In the investigations showed that the risk rose, ever more and more cannabis was consumed. One of the studies from Seattle, Washington, USA in 2009 found that those who smoked marijuana had about a 70 percent higher risk for testicular cancer. Professor Boerne's statement may refer to this study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Cocaine users have a lower risk
In another study, a research team from the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland, concluded in 2010 that the risk of testicular cancer is about twice as high for cannabis users as it is for non-users. Similar results were obtained in 2012 from a study at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Interestingly, it also turns out that men who consumed cocaine had a lower risk than non-users. According to the California team, the reason for the increased risk of testicular cancer could possibly be that the cannabis drug THC interacts with receptors that could affect sperm production. It is already known that cannabis users have a lower testosterone level.

Risk factor undescended testis
The three studies share one basic problem: they do show that marijuana users are more likely to develop testicular cancer than non-smokers. But whether cannabis actually increases the risk for the cancer remains unclear. Other factors not considered by the scientists could be responsible for this. To prove a corresponding possible direct connection, further investigations are necessary. In Germany, around 3,000 men develop testicular cancer annually, especially in the age group between 20 and 40 years. The exact causes are not yet clear, but the main risk factor is an undescended testicle (Maldescensus testis). In addition, the risk is also increased by hereditary factors. Ideally, parents should allow their male offspring to treat a possible undescended testicle in the first year of life, among other things, to reduce the risk of testicular cancer, as the German Society of Pediatric Surgery (DGKCH) announced a few months ago. Experts also advise looking for a doctor in testicular pain, as these could indicate testicular cancer. (Ad)