Health · Medical Research · 12 hrs ago
Low testosterone linked to higher risk of dying from cancer
An international study tracked more than 26,000 men in Australia, the United States and Europe.
Researchers compared hormone levels measured earlier in their lives with cancer diagnoses and deaths recorded over following decades.
Men in the lowest fifth for testosterone had an 18% higher risk of dying from cancer than men in the highest fifth.
The study found no link between natural testosterone levels and prostate cancer risk, while lower levels of two other hormones were more closely associated with that cancer.
The results show an association, not proof that low testosterone causes cancer.
Testosterone could become a clue to future health risks, but the study does not establish how doctors should use it.
A study of more than 26,000 men found that those with low testosterone had an 18 percent higher risk of dying from cancer.
The study found that cancer risk began to rise when testosterone levels were below 8.6 nmol/L.
Researchers found no association between natural testosterone levels and prostate cancer risk.
The findings show an association and do not establish that low testosterone causes cancer.
The research was published in Lancet Healthy Longevity and led by Professor Bu Yeap of The University of Western Australia.
- Who
- More than 26,000 men in 11 long-running studies were included.
- What
- Researchers found that low testosterone was associated with an 18 percent higher risk of dying from cancer.
- When
- The study was published on November 8, 2026. Hormone levels were measured earlier in the men's lives, with outcomes tracked over following decades.
- Where
- The studies were conducted across Australia, the United States and Europe.
- Why
- Researchers investigated whether sex hormone levels were associated with future cancer diagnoses and deaths.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers analyzed hormone concentrations in blood samples collected from participants.
Researchers compared the hormone measurements with cancer diagnoses and deaths recorded over time.
ScienceDaily reported on the study, published in Lancet Healthy Longevity.
- Study size
- More than 26,000 men
- Studies
- 11 long-running studies
- Locations
- Australia, the United States and Europe
- Cancer mortality risk
- 18 percent higher among men with low testosterone
- Testosterone threshold
- Below 8.6 nmol/L
- Publication
- Lancet Healthy Longevity
What people are saying
We wanted to know whether the concentration of these hormones in the blood was related to the risk of men being diagnosed with, or dying from, cancer into the future
We saw that when baseline testosterone was below 8.6 nmol/L, subsequent cancer risk started increasing