Monday, February 09, 2009

Cannibis Linked To Testicular Cancer

So now researchers are saying it looks like cannabis might be a cause of some forms of testicular cancer.

Here's what might be the vital part of the article.

Although testicular cancer is normally curable when caught early, some patients are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced. Undescended testes in childhood and a family history of the disease are known to increase the risk.

The disease is thought to begin in the womb when germ cells in the foetus (those that will eventually make sperm in the adult) fail to develop properly. Exposure to male hormones in adolescence is thought to trigger development of cancer in the affected cells. Chronic cannabis use is known to reduce sperm quality and increase impotence, which are linked with testicular cancer.

The testes have receptors for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, and the male reproductive system is known to naturally produce a cannabinoid-like chemical that is thought to protect against the disease.

The researchers speculate that cannabis may interfere with this anti-tumour effect, increasing the risk of the cancer developing.


Well, that explains Lance Armstrong's prior relationship to a certain nutcase female rock star. Somebody be sure and point this out to Michael Phelps.

2 comments:

Joubert said...

"Chronic cannabis use is known to reduce sperm quality and increase impotence, which are linked with testicular cancer."

What?

I follow drug and medicine news and I've never heard of this before.

Testicular cancer, like many cancers, is hereditary. Period.

Sounds like more "demon weed" nonsense.

SecondComingOfBast said...

That's what I thought too, Patrick, when I first saw the article. It actually does point out that testicular cancer is mostly caused by genetic factors, but that prolonged and extensive cannabis use can heighten the likelihood of it. In other words, a great many people might carry the gene, but the cancer might never manifest. Use of cannabis increases the likelihood of those genetic factors manifesting.

I'm not saying I agree with it, because after all, the study is new, but it certainly warrants continued research.

I would guess like anything else, moderation is the key. Too much of anything can have disastrous consequences, and that is surely true of something that is obviously as powerful as marijuana.