Most cancer risk factors are within our ability to control, such as quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight.
But some risk factors are out of our control, especially those with which we are born. A family history of cancer and hereditary cancer syndromes are known to increase risk in those who inherit gene mutations. New and wide-ranging research also suggests something else we are born with may help to determine our cancer risk: our height.
"The association between taller stature and higher risk of many cancers is remarkably robust,” an article in the British Journal of Cancer reads. In fact, studies conducted in several countries link height to many cancers, though the link between cancer and above-average stature is still unclear.
Does that mean if you’re tall you’re going to get cancer? Of course not. Some smokers, heavy drinkers or obese people never get cancer, despite the higher risk.
Researchers only suggest that height be considered among multiple factors in assessing someone’s risk for developing cancer.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- Does height influence cancer risk?
- Which cancers are linked to taller people?
- Why tall people may be more likely to get cancer
- What can tall people do to reduce cancer risk?
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and want to get a second opinion on your diagnosis or treatment options, call us or chat online with a member of our team.
Does height influence cancer risk?
From the United States to the United Kingdom to Korea, scientists have drawn similar connections between increased height and cancer risk.
For instance:
- Doctors at Johns Hopkins linked increased height specifically with colorectal cancer and suggest height “be considered as a risk factor for colorectal cancer screening.”
- Researchers at the University of Oxford studied cancer risk in more than one million women and concluded “cancer incidence increases with increasing adult height for most cancer sites.”
- A sweeping study on cancer risk factors in 23 million Korean adults concluded that “taller adult height was significantly related to an increased risk of most cancers.”
- The Susan G. Komen Foundation cites multiple studies linking tall women to breast cancer risk and suggest “a woman’s height during childhood and the teen years may be related to breast cancer risk.”
Which cancers are linked to taller people?
The Korean study concluded that increased height is linked to cancers of the central nervous system as well as:
An article published by the World Cancer Research Fund says a cancer risk increases with every 5 centimeters (cm) in height, specifically for these cancers:
| Cancer type | Increase in risk |
|---|---|
| Kidney cancer | 10 percent |
| Post-menopausal breast cancer | 11 percent |
| Pre-menopausal breast cancer | 9 percent |
| Ovarian cancer | 8 percent |
| Pancreatic cancer | 7 percent |
| Colorectal cancer | 5 percent |
| Prostate cancer | 4 percent |
Why tall people may be more likely to get cancer
It’s unclear why some tall people may have an increased risk for developing cancer, but some factors that determine height may explain the connection: genetics and hormone production.
Parents pass on multiple physical features to their children, such as eye and hair color and body type, including height. They may also pass on cancer risk with inherited gene mutations, such as faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which increase the risk for developing breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. Genetics accounts for about 10 percent of all cancers.
Growth spurts as children or young adults are often driven by surges in growth hormone production. Increased hormone production is a known cancer risk factor.
Another explanation may be the sheer volume of cells. Taller people may have larger organs and have more cells, which may increase the possibility of replication errors.
“We’ve known that there is a link between cancer risk and height for quite a long time—the taller someone is, the higher the cancer risk,” Georgina Hill from Cancer Research UK tells CNN. “What we haven’t been sure of is why—whether this is simply because a taller person has more cells in their body, or whether there’s an indirect link, such as something to do with nutrition and childhood,”
What can tall people do to reduce cancer risk?
New and evolving cancer treatments are saving more lives than ever. But research is clear that taking steps to prevent cancer and getting regular screenings to catch the disease save even more lives than treatments.
So, no matter how tall you are, here are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of cancer.
Quit smoking: Smoking is linked to multiple cancers, and not just those of the respiratory system. For instance, smoking is a leading cause of bladder cancer.
Exercise regularly: Strong evidence suggests that sedentary behavior increases the risk for developing heart disease, stroke and cancer. Talk to your doctor before making any significant changes to your exercise regimen.
Eat a healthy diet: A diet that contains fruits, vegetables, fish, lean meat and whole grains may help maintain a healthy microbiome.
Lose weight: Obesity is linked to at least 13 cancer types.
Stop drinking alcohol: Alcohol is linked to increased risk for developing seven cancers and the United States surgeon general says there’s no amount of alcohol that’s safe to drink without increasing risk.
Get plenty of rest: Sleep disruption is often caused by stress, anxiety or an inflammatory diet. Changing your diet may improve sleep.
Reduce stress: Chronic stress has been linked to many health issues, including cancer, and poorer treatment outcomes.
Know your family history: If any blood relatives have been diagnosed with cancer, talk to your doctor and consider a genetic counseling consultation to see if you are a candidate for further testing.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and want to get a second opinion on your diagnosis or treatment options, call us or chat online with a member of our team.
