Breast Cancer| Increased Risk for Mentally Ill for Cancer

According to a recent article people with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disease are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. According to the article a new study emphasizes the questions raised concerning people with serious mental illnesses and whether they are receiving the appropriate cancer screenings and other preventative care that would help them to reduce their cancer risk including lifestyle factors which increase cancer risks such as smoking and excessive weight gain. “The increased risk is definitely there, but we’re not entirely sure why,” study leader Dr. Gail Daumit, an associate professor of medicine and psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a Hopkins news release. “Are these people getting screened? Are they being treated? Something’s going on. “The researchers focused on data derived from more than 3300 patients covered by Medicaid in Maryland who were diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to see how many of them were subsequently diagnosed with cancer between 1994 and 2004. Researchers found that in comparison with people in the general population patients with schizophrenia were 4.5 times more likely to develop lung cancer, 3.5 times more likely to develop colorectal cancer and nearly 3 times more likely to develop breast cancer. Patients with bipolar disorder were found to have very similar results. The information was published in the July issue of Psychiatric Services. Lung cancer risk could be associated with the likelihood of patients with schizophrenia who tend to smoke researchers theorized. They also added that women with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were less likely to bear children, and childbearing is noted to reduce breast cancer risk. Additionally, some of the drugs that are commonly prescribed to treat mental illness increased levels of the hormone prolactin which is a factor that is linked to breast cancer. The colorectal cancer increase is believed to exist due to lifestyle issues including smoking, not participating in regular exercise, and a lack of a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. While this study focused on people with serious mental illness, it is important to note the importance of lifestyle choices as a way to help reduce the risk of breast cancer and other cancers are evident in this study. Dr. Seify explains to patients who are considering body contouring procedures that it is important to adopt a lifestyle that is healthy in order to enjoy the maximum benefit from body contouring procedures such as liposuction or abdominolasty. Neither of these procedures are weight loss procedures and a healthy diet and exercise program as well as remaining a non-smoker are changes that will help patients to maintain a stable weight which is the best way to maintain the excellent results achieved from body contouring procedures with Dr. Seify. It is always Dr.  Seify’s  goal for patients to maintain their plastic surgery results as long as possible.