Exposure to Light Increases Cancer Risk

Newswise — The World Health Organization recently added nightshift work to its list of probable cancer-causing agents. Scientific data show that women who work at night for an extended period of time have a significantly increased risk for breast cancer and an increased risk of endometrial cancer. Men who work night shifts have a higher risk of prostate cancer. The problem may lie in their prolonged exposure to light. Steven Hill, professor and chair of the Structural and Cellular Biology Department at Tulane University Health Sciences Center, explores the connection between cancer, exposure to light, and the anti-tumor activities of the hormone melatonin.