Study claims that because of this, men have a higher risk of cancer than women

Men are more likely to get most types of cancer than women. The reasons for this phenomenon have never been clear, but experts have suggested that lifestyle and behavioral choices may be to blame. Now a new study shows the problem may be more complicated and that genes may play a role in the differences between cancer diagnosis in men and women.

The study, published in the journal Cancer, favors biological sex differences over behavioral differences. Researchers analyzed a large sample of data from men and women who participated in a nutrition and health study that lasted over a decade, specifically between 1995 and 2011.

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During those years, 17,951 cancers occurred in men, while only 8,742 cancers occurred in women. The only cancers that men had a lower risk of than women were thyroid and gallbladder cancers. Men had a particularly higher risk of cancer of the esophagus, larynx, bladder and cardia compared to women.

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The researchers found that men were at higher risk for most cancers even after adjusting for risk behavior and exposure to carcinogens, suggesting that genetic differences may play a role.

“Our results show that there are differences in cancer incidence that cannot be explained by environmental pollution alone. This suggests that there are intrinsic biological differences between men and women that influence susceptibility to cancer,” said Dr. Sarah S. Jackson, lead author of the study.

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While these findings are still in their early stages, they are important and could impact the way cancer is diagnosed. Researchers could pay special attention to men when screening for cancer, considering genetics in addition to lifestyle and behavioral factors.