A recent study suggests that men are much more likely to die from majority of specific types of cancer than women in the United States.

U.S. researchers from National Cancer Institute cancer epidemiology and genetics division used survival data and vital rates for 36 types of cancer to determine whether survival and mortality rates from cancer differ with gender.

The research found that mortality rates from mouth cancer have the largest gender gap with deaths in 5.51 men for every woman. It is followed by laryngeal cancer at 5.37, hypoparyngeal cancer at 4.47 and esophageal cancer at 4.08.

Also, more men than women die from cancers with high overall mortality rates such as lung cancer with 2.31 deaths in men for every woman, as well as colorectal caner with 1.42 deaths in men for every woman.

Meanwhile, the study showed that there are 1.37 men for every woman who dies from pancreatic cancer, 1.75 for leukemia and 2.23 for liver cancer.

According to the researchers, it was not easy to identify what really caused the gap in gender. But, they cited various tumor behaviors, including disparities in the regularity of medical examinations. For example, men in the United States are more likely than women to be diagnosed with cancer at an advanced stage.

Michael B. Cook, researcher at the National Cancer Institute, said the research suggests that frequency of cancer diagnosis is the main factor that drives the larger rates of cancer mortality in men, instead of poorer survival once the disease occurs.

Radiation emitted from a mobile phones is “possibly carcinogenic” and may cause a certain type of brain cancer called glioma, says the International Agency for Research on Cancer or IARC, which is under the World Health Organization.

The international group of experts put radio-frequency electromagnetic fields, which are emitted from cellphones, microwaves, radar, radio, television, and wireless signals, in the same category as chloroform, coffee, DDT and lead.

“Possibly carcinogenic” is the third-highest rating by IARC. It is below “carcinogenic to humans” like tobacco and “probably carcinogenic” like diesel exhaust. However, experts say classifying radiation and other agents as “possibly carcinogenic” does not automatically mean they can cause cancer, and the finding should not alter people’s habits on cellphone.

Over the previous week, several scientists from various countries reviewed many existing studies, which include IARC’s Interphone study that claimed that over half an hour every day within 10 years period can increase the risk of having glioma by 40 percent.

However, the expert panel concluded that there was limited evidence that use of cellphone was linked to brain tumors and other types of cancer. Yet, World Health Organization warns people against frequent and lengthy use of mobile phones.

Although additional research is required, it is important to take practical measures that would reduce exposure to radiation such as use of hands-free devices, as well as texting, said Christopher Wild, director of IARC.

Also, children, teens and pregnant women should use cellphones as strictly as possible since they are at higher risk to absorb radiation, said head of the Rotary Cancer Institute Dr. GK Kath at AIIMS.

A current study has shown that smokers are at a greater risk of developing throat and stomach cancer. The study also mentioned that smokers who quit years ago are still at risk.

Italian researchers studied 33 different and independent studies and concluded that smokers have twice the likelihood of developing esophageal and stomach cancer than those who never smoked in their lifetime.

Smoking has already been noted to increase the risks of developing throat and stomach cancer for years. Even more disturbing is the fact that the risks remain even after you quit smoking. However, they pointed out that quitting this vice is still highly beneficial.

Both types of cancer are not common in the Western part of the world as they are more prevalent in third-world or developing countries. In the recent years, however, occurrence of these cancers has increased in Europe and the United States.

Studies show that there is only one out of 200 chances that an average American will develop esophageal cancer, and one in 114 chance of having stomach cancer. That means if you are an American who has never smoked in their lifetime.

It is also further noted that these kinds of studies do not prove that smoking can directly cause esophageal and stomach cancer. To prove that, researchers have to intentionally expose their subjects to tobacco smoke and that can be questioned from the ethical stand-point.

However, Dr. Eva Negri, head researcher, insisted that the study still gives smokers one more good reason to quit and those who do not, to never start smoking.