Thursday, December 30, 2010

Prostate cancer possibility might be associated with index finger size

Prostate cancer can manifest within the prostate gland, which is one of the elements of the male reproductive system. It’s both slow-growing and effortlessly spread to other portions of a man’s body. Diet and genetics are suspected as key contributors to cancer of the prostate, and a new scientific research published in the British Journal of Cancer adds yet another possibility to the latter determinant. As outlined by the research, the size of a man’s right index finger may say much about his risk for prostate cancer. Article source – Index finger length may indicate prostate cancer risk by MoneyBlogNewz.

Length of right index finger might have relationship to cancer of the prostate

Index finger measurement makes a difference according to a research that had 1,524 prostate cancer patients with 3,044 healthy males 15 and older. There is less of a risk of a man to develop cancer of the prostate if his index finger is longer than the ring finger of that same hand. The reverse indicated increased risk, specifically a 33 percent greater chance. There were 23 percent that had longer index fingers and shorter were 57 percent. The rest had about the exact same size fingers. The index and ring were almost equal.

A similar previous research of 366 Korean men was supported with the findings in this study. There will typically be less of a chance for prostate cancer to take place with men younger than 60 and 87.

What testosterone and estrogen relate to it

The length of fingers is determined before the birth of a child while scientists believe the length has to do with the amount of testosterone present. Index fingers will grow shorter than ring fingers causing a greater chance of prostate cancer in men if there is too much testosterone. This is almost the exact same as it is in women. There’s a connection between breast cancer and the amount of estrogen present at birth.

While the index finger indicator could serve as a simple signpost for cancer, a significant number of scientists believe that the findings of the cancer of the prostate study are too simplistic. Several have questioned the methodology of the research also since there may have been other factors involved. There might be some error though considering the finger lengths was self reported by participants.

Articles cited

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703814804576035641517516376.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsForth

News coverage of prostate cancer study

youtube.com/watch?v=NyIzchk8_hY



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