Study: Obesity Surgery Cuts Cancer Risk

Obesity surgery may sharply decrease cancer risk, a study suggests. The study included 1,035 people who had had the surgery between 1986 and 2002. They were compared with 5,746 obese people who did not have surgery. About 4 out of 5 surgery patients had a gastric bypass to reduce stomach size. The others had a band put around the stomach. In the 5 years after the study began, 2% of the surgery patients were diagnosed with cancer. The rate was 8.5% in the other group. Breast cancer rates were 85% lower in the surgery group. Colon cancer was 70% lower. The Los Angeles Times wrote about the study June 18. It was presented at a meeting of obesity surgeons.