Certain blood types increase cancer risk, research finds

New research suggests that your blood type may influence your risk of developing certain cancers. People with blood types A, B, or AB could be more likely to get some types of serious cancers compared to those with type O. A study involving 50,000 Iranians found that those with blood types A, B, or AB have a 55% higher chance of developing stomach cancer than those with type O. The research also indicated that individuals with type A blood are 16% more likely to suffer from bowel cancer. Another study from 2016 involving nearly 18,000 adults showed that people with type AB blood had a 45% higher risk of liver cancer. Conversely, both types O and AB were linked to a lower chance of developing pancreatic cancer. Experts are not entirely sure why blood type affects cancer risk. One theory suggests that different blood types trigger unique immune responses that could lead to cancer development. However, some researchers caution against jumping to conclusions, noting that many studies have small sample sizes and often overlook other important risk factors like smoking or alcohol use. In the UK, the most common blood types are O positive and A positive, accounting for about 65% of the population. Blood type is inherited and can be tested through simple procedures.