Cancer risk in Norwegian world class athletes.
BACKGROUND
Physical activity appears to be inversely related to cancer risk, although the evidence is convincing for colon cancer only. As physical activity levels are difficult to measure in the general population, we aimed to investigate how physical activity influences cancer risk using a cohort of Norwegian world class athletes.


METHODS
The cohort includes 3,428 athletes. Individual questionnaires gave information about physical activity and lifestyle variables until attained age. To elucidate the level of cancer risk, groups of athletes were compared to the general population (external comparisons) and to each other (internal comparisons).


RESULTS
A slightly reduced risk of total cancer was observed in the cohort of athletes, but stronger effects were observed for subgroups. The risk reduction was most pronounced for lung cancer and for leukemia/lymphoma. In women, a threefold increased risk of thyroid cancer was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
This cohort of athletes seems to have a reduced risk of cancer. The beneficial association, however, is weak and may be attributed to healthy lifestyle as well as to physical activity. Prolonged strenuous exercise may also increase the risk of thyroid cancer in women.
Robsahm
Trude Eid
TE
The Cancer Registry of Norway, Institute of Population-Based Cancer Research, Oslo, Norway. trude.eid.robsahm@kreftregisteret.no
Hestvik
Unn Elisabet
UE
Veierød
Marit Bragelien
MB
Fagerlie
Arne
A
Nystad
Wenche
W
Engebretsen
Lars
L
Tretli
Steinar
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult