TUESDAY, Dec. 13 (HealthDay News) -- People with a certain type
of muscular dystrophy have twice the risk of being diagnosed with
cancer as the general population, although the actual risk is
relatively low, a new study finds.
Myotonic muscular dystrophy (MMD) is characterized by
progressive weakness and muscular wasting that can affect many
muscles, including those of the face, neck, hands and feet. The
condition can range from mild to severe.
The study, published in the Dec. 14 issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association, included 1,658 patients in Denmark and Sweden who were diagnosed with MMD between 1977 and 2008, and followed until they were diagnosed with cancer, died or emigrated.
During follow-up, about 40 percent of the patients died and
about 6 percent developed cancer. The number of MMD patients who
developed cancer (104) was twice as high as the 52 cases that would
be expected in the same number of people in the general population,
Dr. Shahinaz Gadalla of the U.S. National Cancer Institute and
colleagues explained in a journal news release.
Gadalla and colleagues said their findings indicate that MMD
patients are at increased risk for cancer.
"Most notably, we observed significant excesses of endometrial cancer, brain cancer, ovarian cancer and colon cancer. Our data also suggested possible excesses of eye cancer, other female genital organ cancer, thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer," the researchers wrote.
People with MMD should make sure they are getting recommended
cancer screenings, especially for colon cancer, according to the
researchers.
The study authors also urged people with MMD not to be overly
worried. Though the risk of certain cancers are higher compared to
the general population, the chances of getting a specific cancer is
still low.
"The incidence rates for a number of the excess cancers are relatively low, despite their large relative risks," the authors concluded.
More information
The Muscular Dystrophy Association has more about
myotonic muscular dystrophy.