Scientists at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University in Taiwan found a higher than average risk of particular cancers in women with a history of gestational diabetes or pregnancy-related diabetes. Their study was published in February 2019 in the British Medical Journal.

A total of 47,373 women with gestational diabetes and 943,199 women with healthy pregnancies were admitted to the study and followed for three years. Women with a history of gestational diabetes had more than twice the risk of developing cancer than women without such a history. They were…

• more than twice as likely to develop kidney cancer,
• nearly 74 percent more likely to develop cancer of the nose or throat,
• more than 37 percent chance of being diagnosed with lung cancer,
• nearly 39 percent more likely to develop cancer of the thyroid gland, and
• over 23 percent more likely to develop breast cancer.

The researchers concluded that women with a history of gestational diabetes should be screened for the cancers listed above.

Prevention of gestational diabetes should begin before a woman conceives. Gestational diabetes begins during pregnancy, especially in women over 25 years of age. Being overweight is a risk factor, so women planning to conceive need to normalize their weight; and during pregnancy, mothers need to gain only the recommended amount of weight. Getting enough physical activity and rest is also important.

Signs and symptoms of kidney cancer are…

• blood in the urine,
• unilateral low back pain,
• lump in the lower back or on the side,
• tiredness,
• loss of appetite,
• lose weight without trying, and/or a
• fever with no known cause that does not go away

Signs and symptoms of nose cancer include…

• nasal mucus,
• bread around the eyes,
• a stuffy side of your nose,
• postnasal drip,
• frequent nosebleeds
• pus from nose,
• a poor or absent sense of smell, and/or
• numbness or pain in the face

Signs and symptoms of throat cancer include…

• a cough that won’t go away
• hoarseness or slurred speech,
• swallow with difficulty,
• ear bread
• sore throat and/or
• unexplained weight loss

The list of signs and symptoms of lung cancer includes…

• a persistent cough
• bloody or rust-colored sputum
• chest pain that worsens with breathing
• hoarseness,
• difficulty breathing,
• tiredness,
• loss of appetite and/or
• weight loss without trying.

The signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer are…

• a lump in the neck can grow rapidly,
• pain in front of the neck can reach to the ears,
• hoarseness or other changes in the voice,
• difficulty swallowing and/or
• respiratory problems.