We don’t know how many of your male friends enjoy kicking back with a doobie in their spare time, but a recent study has revealed more dangers in smoking the drug than we already knew before.
The research shows that men who smoke cannabis are at a higher risk of testicular cancer.
However, in a strange twist, cocaine users may be at a lower risk from the disease.
Researchers have found a link between recreational cannabis use and an increased risk of developing certain types of testicular cancer.
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in young men between the ages of 15 and 45.
The dangerous disease is becoming more and more common and researchers believe this is due to rising exposure to unknown environmental causes, the Irish Sun reports today.
Professors of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) found that men with a history of blazing up doobies for pleasure were twice as likely to develop more aggressive forms of testicular cancer.
The study isn’t completely new as it backs up findings on two previous reports on a potential link between cannabis and testicular cancer.
The researchers also discovered that, unusually, men who have a history of using cocaine had a reduced risk of certain types of testicular cancer.
The authors think that the hard drug may kill sperm-producing germ cells.
Dr Cortessis from USC said; “Although germ cells cannot develop cancer if they are first destroyed, fertility would also be impaired.
“Since this is the first study in which an association between cocaine use and lower testis cancer risk is noted, additional studies are needed to validate the results.”
The findings were published in the journal Cancer.
Men, be aware. Women, spread the word.
