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Paracetamol increases the risk of developing a rare form of cancer
Last reviewed: 30.06.2025
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Regular paracetamol use may increase the risk of developing a rare form of cancer, according to US scientists from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle. They claim that people over 50 who drink this drug the vast majority of days a week increase their chances of developing blood cancer within ten years, The Telegraph writes.
The findings were made after an analysis of the health of about 65,000 initially healthy men and women over six years. During that time, 577 people developed a form of blood cancer known as lymphoma. Of this group, those who regularly took paracetamol were more likely to develop the disease.
But among those who did not have cancer, 5% took paracetamol at least four times a week. But of those who did, 9% said they took the drug just as often. According to scientists, if a person takes paracetamol at least four times a week for at least four years, the risk of developing cancer increases to 2%.
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