THC & Testicular Cancer Link: Fact or Fiction

John Underwood Director AAI

Athletes and Testicular Cancer

Most young men are not aware that they may be vulnerable to testicular cancer, even though this cancer usually strikes men who are 15 to 35 years old. It is not only the most common cancer in this age group but also the leading cancer killer in this age group.

 

Cyclist Lance Armstrong and skater Scott Hamilton are two young, nationally known athletes who have been treated for testicular cancer. Though the disease can affect older men, it occurs much less frequently after age 40. Of course vigilant self check is one way to identify early the onset of testicular cancer, but also to realize that there are increasing suspicions that marijuana use may increase greatly the chances for this type of cancer.

 

Great Champions and Pot

The recent Michael Phelps marijuana scandal is unfortunately the example not to set.  Most adults can make poor decisions, however, those who are highly visible role models, who make bad decisions, bring more harm than can be measured in youth populations and sport.

Marijuana use in the athlete population is increasing at alarming rates.  Alcohol strategies are making it increasingly difficult to access or use alcohol and as a result pot use is on the rise, even in the athlete population. The recent use of breathalyzers and awareness when it comes to youth drinking has had the undesired impact of increasing pot use. The unfortunate use of pot in the professional levels of sport has also had a very significant effect on young athletes’ decisions on use. Presently nationwide, 21% of high school senior athletes report marijuana use during the school year.

 

 

 

BEWARE and BE AWARE

Newsletters have posted several recent articles relating to bad outcomes for those who are chronic or frequent smokers of marijuana. There is no end to the bad news for marijuana. All of this negative scientific news flies in the face of an ever-growing movement to expand the presence, utilization and legal immunity of medical marijuana cooperatives in America. It seems like those who are leading this movement recognize that the smoking of marijuana will never be "cleared" by the FDA, so they've decided to push medical legalization through a smoke and mirror process of community activism. Can you imagine the FDA ever clearing a drug that has direct effects of brain volume shrinkage, serious depression and pulmonary disease? Well that's what marijuana does. Now add to the list of known marijuana side effects: testicular cancer.

A recent retrospective study of testicular cancer patients revealed a significant connection between marijuana smoking and the development of a particularly fast growing malignancy. The move to assess the role of marijuana smoking in testicular cancer occurred when researchers discovered that testes are populated with cannabinoid (THC) receptors just like the brain is. The rate of coincidence for cancer and marijuana use was greatest for young men who began smoking the drug as adolescents. Those men who smoked marijuana at least once a week were twice as likely to develop cancer than those who didn't.

 

The research work was done by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle; the scientists are unsure why the connection between marijuana smoking and cancer occurred with only the fast spreading (nonseminoma) form of the disease, there was no relationship with the slow (seminoma) spreading version malignancy. Since the 1950's both kinds of testicular cancer have increased by 3% to 6% a year in the West, Europe and Australia. This study showed that there was a 70% higher risk factor for this form of cancer if the patient was an active smoker at the time of testicular cancer diagnosis. The findings considered other risk factors in this assessment and were subsequently adjusted.
 
Marijuana (THC) is a serious drug of abuse. Research has conclusively established that marijuana smoking can lead to drug dependency, withdrawal and an uncomfortable abstinence syndrome. Marijuana screening systems should be part of any serious and competent drug testing protocol.