No. Studies demonstrated that cancer in the vicinity of a
total hip or knee joint is extremely rare. During the whole modern history of total joint
replacement only 24 such cases were described among the many millions of patients operated
on worldwide. (Tharani 2001)
Are other forms of cancer, such as stomach, bowel,
and other forms more frequent in patients operated on with total hip ?
No. Studies demonstrated that patients with
total hip prostheses implanted in their bodies are not at greater risk to develop
cancer than the people in the general population.
Do patients with with bilateral total hip
replacements develop more often cancer than people in the people in the general
population?
No. The available studies demonstrate that the risk to have
cancer is not greater in patients who have both hips or both knees replaced.
Do patients who have had repeated operations
(revision operations) of their total hip have cancer more often than the people in
the general population?
No. Available studies demonstrate that cancer risk is not
higher in patients with repeatedly operated total hip or knee prostheses.
Do patients with metal on metal total hips have
higher risk to have cancer?
This question is difficult to answer. There are no data for
patients operated on with the modern metal on metal total hips. The patients operated on
with the old metal on metal total hips showed higher rates of blood cancer in one study
from Finland (Tharani 2001).
Do patients with ceramic total hips have
higher risk to have cancer?
As yet, there are no studies done to answer this question.
Is the risk for having cancer after total hip
replacement dependent on the hip disease?
Such connection was not proven for total hip replacement.
In some studies it appeared, however, that patients with
rheumatoid arthritis more often incure some forms of blood cancer (myeloma,
leukemias).
Is the risk of having cancer after total joint
replacement higher for patients who have had the total joint prosthesis in the body
several years?
This question is difficult to answer. The studies that
investigated whether patients who were having a total hip joint prosthesis several
years have higher incidence of different forms of cancer than general population are still
inconclusive, mainly because it is difficult to follow up large groups of patients for 20
and more years. For total knee replacement such studies are as yet entirely lacking.