Should Men with Cardiovascular Disease Also Be Wary of Cancer? A 25-Year Follow-Up Study Reveals "Three Common Risks"

Cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction, angina, and stroke, and cancer may seem like separate illnesses at first glance, but there might be a deeper connection between the two than previously imagined.

In a large-scale follow-up study conducted by research teams from the University of Aberdeen and Keele University in the UK,it was found that men with cardiovascular disease (CVD) tend to have higher rates of cancer incidence and mortality compared to men without cardiovascular disease and women.

Furthermore, the research team identified key factors underlying this trend, includingsmoking, obesity, and excessive alcohol consumption.

These factors have often been individually discussed as "bad for the heart and blood vessels" or "increasing cancer risk." However, this study highlights the possibility that a single lifestyle habit can lead to multiple serious illnesses.

Tracking 22,534 People for Over 25 Years

This study was conducted on participants of the large-scale epidemiological study "EPIC-Norfolk" in the UK.

The analysis included22,534 people who were not diagnosed with cancer at the start of the study. The average age was approximately 59 for both men and women, and their health status was tracked for a median of over 26 years.

Among the participants,10,889 already had cardiovascular disease at the start of the study or developed it during the follow-up period.

Researchers classified participants by gender and the presence or absence of cardiovascular disease to compare cancer incidence and mortality rates.

The most notable findings were among men.

The lifetime risk of cancer for those with cardiovascular disease was

Men: 17.3%
Women: 12.8%

.

On the other hand, for those without cardiovascular disease, the risk was

Men: 10.2%
Women: 8.2%

.

In this group, both men and women with cardiovascular disease had a higher cancer risk, with the difference being particularly pronounced in men.

However, it is not appropriate to simply interpret these numbers as "having cardiovascular disease means a 17.3% chance of getting cancer."

These are estimates derived from a long-term epidemiological study of a specific UK population, and they may not directly apply to other populations with different ages, living environments, races, or healthcare systems.

Significant Differences in Lung, Esophagus, Stomach, and Colon

When the research team examined the types of cancer in detail, they found that people with cardiovascular disease tended to have higher incidences ofstomach cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, and non-melanoma skin cancer.

These trends were more pronounced in men.

Particularly in men, those with cardiovascular disease had a higher risk of death fromstomach cancer, esophageal cancer, and lung cancer compared to those without cardiovascular disease.

Researchers from the University of Aberdeen involved in the study noted that men showed a higher tendency not only for cancer incidence but also for cancer mortality, with notable differences particularly in lung and esophageal cancers.

This raises the important question of "why does cancer increase in men with cardiovascular disease?"

The Common Factors of "Smoking, Obesity, and Alcohol Consumption"

The analysis of risk factors by the research team revealed that in men with cardiovascular disease, the factors strongly associated with cancer incidence and mortality were

smoking
obesity, particularly severe obesity
excessive alcohol consumption

.

In a sense, this is an expected result.

Tobacco is known to be a risk factor for many cancers, including lung cancer, and it also promotes arteriosclerosis, increasing the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke.

Obesity similarly raises the risk of cardiovascular disease through high blood pressure, lipid abnormalities, and diabetes, while also being associated with several cancers through chronic inflammation, hormonal, and metabolic changes.

Excessive alcohol intake not only increases the burden on blood pressure and the cardiovascular system but is also known to be associated with cancers in multiple areas such as the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, liver, and colon.

In other words,

it is not a simple structure of "having heart disease leads to cancer,"

but rather,

there is a common background that can lead to both cardiovascular disease and cancer

that makes it easier to understand the results of this study.

"Cardiovascular Disease Itself" Does Not Necessarily Cause Cancer

This point is very important.

Although this study is a large-scale observational study over a long period, it does not prove that cardiovascular disease directly causes cancer.

For example, in the case of long-term smokers, tobacco may damage blood vessels leading to cardiovascular disease, while simultaneously causing changes that lead to cancer in the lungs and esophagus.

In such cases,

the relationship is not a one-way causal link of cardiovascular disease → cancer,

but rather,

there are two pathways: smoking → cardiovascular disease
smoking → cancer

.

A similar structure can be considered for obesity and alcohol consumption.

Additionally, socioeconomic environment, diet, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other factors that cannot be completely eliminated in research may also be involved.

Experts from Cancer Research UK also point out that cardiovascular disease and cancer share many common causes, which may explain their relationship.

While differences in smoking rates may influence the tendency for men to develop cancer more easily, further research is needed to conclude that "the relationship between cardiovascular disease and cancer is inherently stronger in men than in women."

Different Results in Another Large-Scale Study

Not all studies on the relationship between cardiovascular disease and cancer have reached the same conclusion.

Another large-scale European study published in 2026 investigated cancer risk after the onset of cardiovascular disease in approximately 569,000 people.

In that study, while cancer diagnoses increased during the first year after being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, no clear risk increase was confirmed in men after more than a year had passed.

Researchers also suggest that "detection bias," where detailed examinations in medical institutions following a cardiovascular disease diagnosis lead to the discovery of previously undetected cancers, may partly influence the results.

This does not negate the EPIC-Norfolk study.

Rather, the important takeaway is thatthe relationship between cardiovascular disease and cancer is not simple and involves multiple factors such as lifestyle, metabolism, inflammation, and the frequency of medical examinations.

It is necessary to interpret the findings cautiously, considering multiple studies rather than being swayed by sensational headlines like "having heart disease leads to cancer."

Beyond Just "Protecting the Heart from Cancer Treatment"?

One particularly interesting aspect of this study is its impact on the medical field known as "cardio-oncology."

Traditionally, cardio-oncology has focused on preventing damage to the heart and blood vessels from cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation,

with the major theme being "how to protect the hearts of cancer patients."

However, based on this study, the reverse perspective is also needed.

In other words,

the focus should also be on "how to identify those at high cancer risk among patients with cardiovascular disease."

.

An editorial in the European Heart Journal regarding this study also highlights future challenges, including gender-considerate prevention, improved cancer risk prediction, evaluation using biomarkers, and responses by multidisciplinary medical teams.

It may become increasingly important for doctors treating cardiovascular disease to evaluate not only blood pressure and cholesterol but also smoking history, alcohol consumption, weight, and cancer screening history.

Such comprehensive medical care could become even more crucial in the future.

Voices on Social Media Questioning "Is Personal Responsibility Enough?"

This study is relatively new, and large-scale discussions directly addressing it on social media are still limited.

However, recent social media and online community discussions about cancer prevention and cardiovascular risk highlight two reactions that overlap with this study.

One is the sentiment that

"the importance of changing lifestyle habits is understood."

.

In a Reddit science community, when another study on abdominal fat and cardiovascular risk was discussed, there was a debate about the importance of looking beyond BMI numbers to consider visceral fat and where fat accumulates.

The issue is the need to assess health status not just by "being fat or thin" but by considering metabolism, blood pressure, sleep, exercise, and more.

This study also highlights severe obesity as a significant risk factor, aligning with such discussions.

On the other hand, in another cancer-related community, there is skepticism about

"whether cancer prevention should be solely attributed to individual lifestyle choices."

.

While factors individuals can change, like smoking, drinking, and weight management, are important, factors such as income, occupation, living environment, access to food, and air pollution, which are not easily changed by individuals, also affect health.

The original study also found that socioeconomic deprivation was a risk factor for some groups.

Simply conveying "just quit smoking" or "just lose weight" risks overlooking the social background that creates health disparities.

Such reactions on social media are not scientific evidence themselves, but they offer perspectives on how research findings should be utilized in society.

"It's Not Meaningless Unless You Quit All Three"

When words like smoking, obesity, and excessive drinking are mentioned together,

some might feel that

"it's meaningless unless you improve all of them."

However, there is no need to draw such a conclusion from this study.

For example, if you smoke, consult a doctor about quitting. If you drink heavily, start by reducing the days or amount you drink. Regularly check not only your weight but also your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.

Reducing risk factors one by one is important.

Especially for those already receiving treatment for cardiovascular disease, it is necessary to proceed with changes in consultation with their primary care physician rather than starting extreme dietary restrictions or exercise on their own.

The goal is not to aim for a "perfect lifestyle" but to understand the risks you can change.

A Chance to Reevaluate Men's Health Management

The most important aspect of this study is not to unnecessarily scare men.

Interpreting the result that men with cardiovascular disease had a higher cancer risk as

"if you have heart disease, cancer is next"

is a mistake.

Rather, the study suggests the need to manage the common risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer together, rather than treating them as completely separate illnesses.

Smoking, obesity, excessive drinking, high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of exercise. These factors do not harm just one organ.

They affect the heart and blood vessels and, over time, may also be related to the development of cancer.

Therefore, being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease can be seen as an opportunity to review overall health management, including lifestyle habits and cancer screenings, not just a signal to start heart treatment.

Researchers suggest that further studies are needed to incorporate cardiovascular disease into cancer risk prediction and to establish a system for appropriate screening for those at particularly high risk.

From an era of considering "heart" and "cancer" separately to an era of managing common risks as a whole.

This study may serve as a catalyst for such a shift in medical direction.

Source URLThe Independent: Overview of the EPIC-Norfolk study, cancer risk by gender, and comments from researchers and Cancer Research UK.

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