A women's height helps determine her risk of cancer, and the danger rises with every few inches.
A study showed women's cancer risk rose by 16 percent with every four inches of added height over five feet, MedPage Today reported.
"We showed that the link between greater height and increased total cancer risk is similar across many different populations from Asia, Australasia, Europe, and North America," Dr. Jane Green, lead author of the study, who is based at the Cancer Epidemiology Unit at Oxford University, said, according to a press release.
"The link between height and cancer risk seems to be common to many different types of cancer and in different people; suggesting that there may be a basic common mechanism, perhaps acting early in peoples' lives, when they are growing," she said.
The research team observed 1.3 million middle-aged women in the U.K. About 97,000 of the subjects were diagnosed with cancer during the 10 year run.
Taller women were found to be at a higher risk for breast, ovary, womb, and bowel cancer. Increased incidences of leukemia and malignant melanoma were also reported.
The study did not find why taller women were diagnosed with cancer more often, but some possibilities include; diet and infections as a child, as well as growth hormone influences.
The researchers followed up on other factors that contribute to cancer risk such as smoking, but found a negative correlation. Smoking-related cancer risk fell four every four inches of height, MedPage Today reported.
"Another possibility is that height predicts cancer risk because taller people have more cells (including stem cells) and thus a greater opportunity for mutations leading to malignant transformation," the researchers said.
The study hoped to gain insight into the root causes of cancer.
"'Of course people cannot change their height. Being taller has been linked to a lower risk of other conditions, such as heart disease. The importance of our findings is that they may help us to understand how cancers develop." Dr. Green said, according to the press release.
