Several studies have demonstrated that cold temperatures may be a potential risk factor for cancer development.

For example, this study compared the 50 countries with the highest cancer rates to the countries with the lowest cancer rates,

and conclude that people living in cold

environments may have a higher risk of getting and dying from cancer.

A similar study within the United States found that colder counties were associated

with the greater cancer incidence.

But couldn't something like vitamin D exposure better explain these findings?

Patients diagnosed with cancer during summer

months may have a better prognosis than those diagnosed during the winter. But again, this

could be because of the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D. Evidently, an animal colony had less cancer

when they moved from a colder country to a warmer country based on some observation

published in 1939, seems

a bit of a stretch.

But then this study was published.

Standard housing temperatures for laboratory mice and research facilities is mandated

to be between 20 and 26 Celsius, like typical room temperatures in the 70s Fahrenheit.

But that's chilly for mice, causing chronic mild cold stress.

When that stress is alleviated by housing at warmer temperatures, like in the 80s Fahrenheit,

researchers observed a striking reduction in tumor formation, cancer growth rate, and metastasis.

Warmer was better. They suggested that the cold stress results in a suppression of anti-tumor

immunity. Then why do they keep mice at that lower temperature? It reduces the frequency

of cage cleaning and helps ensure the thermal comfort

...