Association between adverse childhood experiences and diagnosis of cancer

Approximately 62% of respondents reported being exposed to adverse childhood experiences and about one in ten respondents reported ever having been diagnosed with cancer. Component 1, which had the sexual abuse variables with the highest weights, was significantly associated with adulthood cancer (adjusted OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.03-1.43).

CONCLUSION:
The association between ACEs and adulthood cancer may be attributable to disease progression through association of ACEs with risk factors for other chronic diseases. More research should focus on the impact of sexual abuse ACEs and adverse health outcomes....

A reduction in ACEs, perhaps sexual abuse ACEs, could reduce adverse health outcomes, such as cancer.

View the entire study on PLOS.