A tall person
Several studies have shown a relationship between a person’s height and the risk of developing various forms of cancer.
A study from Seoul National University in Korea following 788,789 people between the ages of 40 and 64 determined that for every 5 centimeters in additional height, men’s cancer risk increased by 5% and women’s cancer risk increased by 7%.
The study was adjusted for relevant factors such as age and socioeconomic status. A positive association was found for colon, breast, thyroid, ovarian, and prostate cancer.
A review study of literature done at John Hopkins University , which also found links between height and cancer, found the most consistent associations were for breast cancer. While the links found were relatively weak, they were still conclusive.
Several of the studies have suggested that increased levels of an insulin-like growth factor known as IGF-1 may be involved. Cancer and natural growth have factors in common – namely, division and increases in cells. More IGF-1 causes more growth, often leading to greater height.
IGF-1 protects new cells from being attacked by the body, a necessary function when growing. But raised levels of IGF-1 may also diminish the ability of the body to rid itself of abnormal cells such as cancer.
Caloric intake during early years may also be related to the height versus cancer risk. A study done in Norway comparing historic periods where food was less abundant, suggested that reduced nutrition leading to reduced adult height could be linked to fewer cases of breast cancer.
With regard to prostate cancer, it has been found that the more aggressive the cancer, the better the correlation to height. This was noted in an article in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention
We tall people sometimes seem to be at an advantage, but where cancer is involved, it might be better to be short.
