Cancer Rates Higher for Schizophrenics

Someone with schizophrenia is four times as likely to die of cancer as the average person, a new study finds. It’s the second leading cause of death, after suicide, for people with this mental illness. The study included more than 3,400 people with schizophrenia. In 11 years, 476 of them died. Cancer deaths totaled 74. Researchers said the higher rates might be caused by high rates of smoking, delays in diagnosis and less compliance with treatment. The study was published online in the journal Cancer. HealthDay News wrote about it June 23.