Link between cancer, diabetes and heart disease revealed

Washington, Apr.20 (ANI): A new study has revealed that shared risk factors lead to diabetes, heart disease and cancer. For example, the World Cancer Research Foundation has concluded that obesity is a major cancer risk factor, likely causing about 20 percent of cancers of the breast, esophagus, colon, kidney, endometrium, pancreas, and gall bladder in the United States. Likewise, overweight and obesity contribute to diabetes and cardiovascular disease, causing 58 percent of type 2 diabetes and 21 percent of ischemic heart disease (according to the World Heart Federation). Shared risk factors for cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease also include, most importantly, tobacco, diet quality, physical activity and alcohol use. University of Colorado Cancer Center investigator Tim Byers said that by stepping back to look system-wide, researchers from many disciplines could collaborate and share knowledge, leading to a better understanding of how these risk factors work at the tissue, cellular and molecular levels to drive these diseases. (ANI)