Cancer Risk Affected by Class and Gender: FPHA

By Amira El Masaiti

Rabat – Gender and socio-economic class have distinct correlations to cancer risk, according to a study conducted by the French Public Health Agency (FPHA).

The analysis involved 189,144 people (100,299 men and 78,845 women) who had cancer between 2006 and 2009 in 16 French regions.

Individuals living in disadvantaged areas are more likely to develop cancers of the stomach, liver, lips and mouth-pharynx, and lung for both sexes, the study found. In contrast, wealthier populations are more likely they are to be affected by melanoma.

In terms of gender, men living in poor conditions have higher chances of being affected by cancers of the larynx, esophagus, pancreas and bladder, while men from wealthy environments are more concerned with prostate and testicular cancers.

Women living in disadvantaged classes are more affected by cervical cancer, whereas wealthy women are in danger of developing ovarian and breast cancers.

According to the French researchers who conducted the study, “the social determination of certain risk factors such as smoking, occupational exposures or atmospheric pollutants may explain a significant part of the observed differences.”