Mentally ill have increased chance of brain and lung cancers
13 October 2004
by Richard
Conan-Davies
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According to research by scientists led by Indiana University School of Medicine people with mental illness have a slightly increased chance of developing brain cancers and lung cancers than people with no mental illness. The researchers were not surprised to find lung cancers increased because often people with mental illnesses tended to smoke more often but. Dr Caroline Carney of Indiana University School of Medicine explained that "The association between mental health problems and brain tumors, was less expected but is explained by the likelihood that brain tumors cause mental symptoms prior to other symptoms like neurological symptoms. In addition chances of lymphoma and leukemia were higher in women with mental illnesses. This all suggests that doctors who deal with mentally ill patients could provide more encouragement to their patients to stop smoking and look for new behaviour signs of possible brain tumours. |
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