Cancer risk among Holocaust survivors in Israel—A nationwide study

Abstract

The current results, based on a large cohort of Holocaust survivors who were exposed to a variety of severe deprivations, add to the conflicting and sparse knowledge on this issue and support the notion that this group has a small but consistent increase in cancer development. Cancer 2017;123:3335-45. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Cancer risk among Holocaust survivors in Israel

“…We read with interest the article by Sadetzki et al, 1 which confirmed our own findings regarding the increased cancer risk in Israeli Holocaust survivors. 2 The higher risk for cancer of all sites as well colorectal and lung cancer in exposed subjects observed in both studies despite the different methodologies used further validates these results.…”

“…This can be seen in Table 1 in our study, 1 which shows that approximately 29% of the study population immigrated after 1960, and that many of these individuals were classified as exposed (particularly in the group B and disabled war veterans subgroups). 1 The second point raised in the letter by Keinan Boker and Vin-Raviv is that our study population did not include all Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Israel. Not only do we agree that our study population cohort included Holocaust survivors who applied for compensation as per Israeli laws, we also have mentioned that only approximately 40% of the Jews who survived World War II were living in Israel, thereby raising the question of the generalization of the findings.…”

“…Not only do we agree that our study population cohort included Holocaust survivors who applied for compensation as per Israeli laws, we also have mentioned that only approximately 40% of the Jews who survived World War II were living in Israel, thereby raising the question of the generalization of the findings. 1 The figures reported by Keinan Boker and Vin-Raviv that by the end of 2009 only 59,000 individuals were receiving pensions according to the Israeli law are inaccurate because this figure refers only to individuals who receive monthly pensions whereas many more survivors (approximately 80,000 according to data from 2013) receive a yearly pension. The study file for the present analyses included 142,591 individuals who were granted any compensation.…”

Extreme population‐level events: Do they have an impact on cancer?

“…The paper by Sadetzki et al, reported in this issue 1 , showcases the impact of a horrendous event – the Holocaust – on subsequent health, decades after the occurrence. This study not only brings to light additional effects of the Holocaust in the Jewish population, but brings to mind similarities in cancer development and extreme population-level tragedies.…”

“…In the article by Sadetzki et al in this issue, exposure to the horrific stressors of the Holocaust is associated with an increased risk of subsequent cancers, although there was not an association with breast cancer. 1 The stressors of Holocaust survivors went far beyond those of victims of the Norway food restrictions and those who suffered from the Dutch famine. Stressors were emotional and physical, and the duration of the abuses was both long and continuous.…”