Obese CRC Survivors At Higher Risk Of Returning Cancer

Obesity has been linked to a number of other health issues, according to numerous studies. Now, recent findings published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology show that colorectal cancer patients who are obese are at an increased risk of developing a second weight-related cancer, also.

Researchers examined 11,598 colorectal cancer patients who were on average 69 years old when first diagnosed. The patients weight had been assessed prior to their intital diagnosis by means of a body mass index calculation, with 44 percent deemed overweight and one quarter obese, according to data.

Researchers found that when compared with other survivors of this health issue who had normal weight at diagnosis, those who had been overweight or obese faced a greater risk for developing a second obesity-related cancer down the road. Furthermore, this highlighted the fact that a higher obesity-driven risk was identified for kidney, pancreatic, esophageal and endometrial cancers, including for postmenopausal breast cancer among female CRC patients.

"The implication is that maintaining a healthy weight is important for cancer prevention in CRC survivors, just as it is in the general population. Our results further emphasize the importance of existing guidelines recommending healthy weight for survivors," concluded lead study author Todd Gibson, Ph.D., in a news release.