Weight loss surgery may impact individual's risk of developing cancer, shows study

Jul 16 2018

A new analysis published in the BJS(British Journal of Surgery) indicates that weight loss surgery may affect an individual's risk of developing cancer.

This national population-based cohort study used data from the Hospital Episode Statistics database in England collected between 1997 and 2012. A total of 8794 obese patients who underwent gastric bypass, gastric banding, or sleeve gastrectomy were matched with 8794 obese individuals who did not have surgery.

Patients who underwent surgery had a 77% decreased risk of developing hormone-related cancer (breast, endometrial or prostate cancer) when compared with patients who did not have surgery.

Gastric bypass resulted in the largest risk reduction (84%) for hormone-related cancer but was associated with a greater than twofold increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Additional studies are needed to understand the biological mechanisms behind these findings.

Source: http://newsroom.wiley.com/press-release/british-journal-surgery/weight-loss-surgery-may-affect-risk-cancer