Is there is a link between cancer and diabetes risk in women? An analysis of existing data at Cancer Institute, Adyar, has found some “alarming statistics” that need more careful study, V. Shanta, chairman of Cancer Institute, Adyar, said.
An annual 2% increase in the prevalence of diabetes as a co-morbidity was observed among patients with breast cancer during 2001-2015, for treatment over three consecutive time periods — 2001-2005, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015. Similarly, there was a 6.4% annual increase in the prevalence of diabetes among patients with cervical cancer, she pointed out, at the 33rd edition of Prof. M. Viswanathan Gold Medal Oration Award on Saturday.
“The same is true for ovarian cancer too,” she said. She observed that she never realised the two (cancer and diabetes) came together. “This is alarming as this is a study only up to 2015. In the outpatients yesterday, every other patient with breast cancer had diabetes. This is tremendous, and if I am going to study it, it is going to be alarmingly high,” Dr. Shanta added.
A study on the occurrence of diabetes as a co-morbid condition among patients admitted for treatment during 2014-2015, found the prevalence was highest among endometrial cancer patients (40.7%).
“Women with diabetes have a higher risk for certain cancers — breast, endometrium, cervix and colo-rectum. The association between diabetes and cancer in women, especially breast, endometrium and colo rectum, may partly be due to shared risk factors such as age, obesity, diet and physical activity, and postulated mechanism such as hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia,” she added.
The overall survival of cancer patients with or without diabetes was also evaluated. “In breast cancer, there was no difference in survival between those with and without diabetes. In every other cancer — cervical and ovarian — there was poorer survival rates in those with diabetes. This needs a more careful study,” she said.
Need for follow-up
Stressing the need for lifetime follow-up of every cancer treated, she said a follow-up of patients found that the cumulative risk of breast cancer patients getting second cancer at 10 years from the diagnosis of the first primary breast cancer, was 4.1% among patients with diabetes, and 2.8% in those without diabetes.
She added that diabetics should be counselled for screening for cancer. “With this increasing trend, we need to concentrate on prevention. Health screening is useful in common accessible cancers and can effectively reduce morbidity and mortality,” she said.
Vijay Viswanathan, head and chief diabetologist, M.V. Hospital for Diabetes, said according to the World Health Organisation, heart diseases, cancer and diabetes constitute 70% of all deaths in women. A specialised women wellness clinic was launched on the occasion. S.N. Narasingan, dean and Jayshree Gopal, associate dean were present.
