Study Links Planned C-Sections to Higher Childhood Cancer Risks
Research indicates that babies born via planned caesarean section may face a greater risk of developing childhood cancer. The study reveals that these infants are over 25% more likely to develop acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), the most prevalent form of childhood leukaemia.
Scientists examined data from around 2.5 million children born in Sweden during two different time frames—1982 to 1989 and 1999 to 2015. Out of these, approximately 15.5% were delivered through C-sections, which were categorized as either planned or emergency procedures.
A total of 1,495 children later developed leukaemia. The findings showed that the risk of ALL was 21% higher for those born via planned C-section compared to those delivered naturally.
This percentage climbed to 29% when focusing on B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL), which makes up about 80% of childhood cases. Interestingly, the heightened risk seemed more pronounced in boys and younger children, according to the research from Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute published in the International Journal of Cancer.
Experts theorize that the increased risk might stem from babies not experiencing the stresses of a natural delivery and the lack of exposure to beneficial bacteria typically encountered in the birth canal.
It’s also speculated that children born through planned C-sections could be predisposed to conditions like asthma and food allergies for similar reasons. In contrast, during emergency C-sections, since labor has already begun, babies may have had some exposure, potentially lowering the risk.
Dr. Christina-Evmorfia Kampitsi, the lead author of the study, commented, “C-sections are crucial and often life-saving in obstetric care. We don’t want to cause anxiety for mothers regarding medically necessary C-sections. However, this finding, alongside other studies indicating increased risks of asthma, allergies, and type 1 diabetes in children born by planned C-section, suggests a need for discussion about non-medically indicated C-sections.”
