According to a recent Swedish study, tattoos may increase blood cancer risk by 1.2 times. While this sounds like a scary statistic, is there cause for concern? Tattoos & blood cancer: is there a hidden connection?
Recent headlines caught my eye:
“Tattoos linked to higher risk of malignant lymphoma, study finds.”
I’ll cut to the chase: While the study raises concerns, we need more research.
In this article, we’ll explore the science behind this potential risk.
A Couple of Thoughts on Tattoos
“Show me a man with a tattoo, and I’ll show you a man with an interesting past.” ― Jack London.
“My body is my journal, and my tattoos are my story.” ― Johnny Depp.
The Rise of Tattoos
Tattoos are increasingly popular.
About one in three Americans have a tattoo, including 22 percent who have more than one.
The probability of having a tattoo varies greatly by several demographics, including sex:
And race:
Here’s the breakdown by age:
Finally, by education level:
Ink Toxins and Biodistribution
Some tattoo inks contain potentially carcinogenic substances like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), primary aromatic amines (PAAs), and certain metals.
These inks trigger an immune response, causing them to migrate from the tattooed area.
Evidence for this migration comes from autopsies where tattoo ink is visibly present in nearby lymph nodes.
Over time, due to factors like light exposure, a significant portion (60 to 90 percent, according to the World Health Organization) of the pigment may migrate from the tattooed area.
This observation raises concerns about the potential long-term health effects of these pigments in the body.
While we know tattoo pigments can end up in lymph nodes, the long-term consequences for our health are unclear.
Current research does not support a direct association between tattoos and skin cancer.
While some studies suggest a coincidence, there’s no concrete evidence that getting a tattoo causes skin cancer.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that disrupts your body’s defense system, the immune system. It primarily affects white blood cells called lymphocytes, which play a critical role in fighting infections.
Given the potential for lymphatic exposure, some researchers suggest lymphomas (Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphomas) might be a more significant concern than skin cancer.
Unlike most skin cancers that develop in the less-exposed outer layers (epidermis), lymphomas originate within the lymphatic system, potentially increasing their risk from migrated pigments.
Lymphoma risk factors
A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting a disease like cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors.
The American Cancer Society offers these non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk factors:
- age
- male sex
- white race
- family history (having a first-degree relative (parent, child, sibling) with non-Hodgin lymphoma
- radiation exposure
- having a weakened immune system
- autoimmune disease
- certain infections (for example, Epstein-Barr virus is an important risk factor for Burkitt lymphoma in some parts of Africa.)
- excess body weight
- breast implants (rarely)
- exposure to certain drugs and chemicals (for example, benzene and certain weed- and insect-killing substances).
Heterogeneity and the need for research
Lymphomas represent a diverse group of cancers affecting lymphocytes (white blood cells) in the lymphatic system.
The potential link between tattoo ink and lymphomas is complex and requires further research to understand the risks and the types of lymphomas most affected.
The New Study – Tattoos & Blood Cancer
A recent study by researchers from Lund University, Sweden, investigated the potential link between tattoos and lymphoma.
The sample population included 11,905 people, with a response rate of 54 percent for cases and 47 percent for controls.
Tattoo prevalence rates were 21 and 18 percent in the case and control groups, respectively.
This investigation examined how long someone had tattoos (time since their first tattoo) and how this might influence their risk.
Study Findings – Tattoos & Blood Cancer
They analyzed data from national registries and discovered this:
People with tattoos had a 1.2 times increased lymphoma risk compared to those without.
The total body surface area tattooed did not affect the cancer risk.
Tattoos appeared most related to two cancer types:
- diffuse-type large B-cell lymphoma (odds increased by 1.3 times)
- follicular lymphoma (odds increased by 1.3 times ).
Laser therapy for tattoo removal significantly increased cancer incidence.
In the matched study, the relative risk of lymphoma among tattooed patients who had received laser therapy was 2.6.
Tattoos & Blood Cancer – Not So Fast
The study authors offer this commentary:
“We speculate that a tattoo, regardless of size, triggers a low-grade inflammation in the body, which in turn can trigger cancer. The picture is thus more complex than we initially thought.”
First, a cautionary note: A limitation was differences between participants and non-participants regarding sociodemographic characteristics.
Second, we should be careful about generalizing the results to people over 60; the causes of lymphoma may differ by age.
Third, selective study participation is a concern. This bias could distort the results of any case-control study. The authors did not have access to individual-level data on the non-participants.
In summary:
The study is hypothesis-generating. My takeaway message is that we still don’t know if there is a tattoo-cancer connection. The 21 percent increase in risk was not statistically significant.
Still, if you’re considering getting a tattoo, choose a reputable artist who uses high-quality, regulated inks.
In contrast to the unknown potential direct impact of tattoo ink on the risk of certain types of cancer, the increased risk of viral infections through poor hygiene conditions during tattooing is proven.
Thank you for reading “Tattoos & Blood Cancer.”
