Childhood trauma may leave a biological and psychological imprint that lasts decades. Meaning: childhood sexual abuse may be linked to a significantly higher likelihood of cancer later in life.
This is according to a study — “Casting a long shadow: Exploring the link between childhood maltreatment and cancer in adulthood” by Matthew Robert Langiano, Carmine Malfitano, and Esme Fuller-Thomson — that was published in PLOS One.
Here, the researchers explored whether different types of childhood adversity, including childhood sexual abuse, childhood physical abuse, and exposure to parental domestic violence, were associated with cancer diagnoses in older adulthood.
The researchers found that the prevalence of cancer was more common among those who had experienced childhood sexual abuse (36%), childhood physical abuse (28%), and parental domestic violence (27%), compared to the general population (21%).
“These findings highlight how experiences early in life are associated with negative health outcomes many decades later,” said first author Langiano. “A life-course lens may deepen our understanding of cancer risk.”
When these three childhood adversities were considered at the same time, the strongest association with cancer was evident among those who were child sexual abuse survivors. Older people who experienced sexual abuse during childhood had about twice the odds of reporting a cancer diagnosis later in life, even after accounting for the other types of childhood adversities and many factors such as smoking, income, and other chronic health conditions.
“These findings reinforce why trauma‑informed care matters, especially in oncology,” said co‑author Malfitano. “When providers understand that a patient’s history may shape how they engage with screening or treatment, care can become more supportive and responsive.”
The researchers emphasized that the study identifies associations rather than cause-and-effect relationships. However, even after accounting for many well-known cancer risk factors, the link between childhood sexual abuse and cancer remained strong. This suggests the association is unlikely to be explained simply by higher rates of smoking, substance use disorders, or poverty among those who experienced abuse.
For co-author Fuller-Thomson, chronic stress may be one possible explanation for this. “Previous research has shown that early trauma can leave long-lasting biological consequences, affecting stress hormones, inflammation, and immune system functioning — processes that may influence cancer development. Childhood trauma may echo across a lifetime of health.”
The researchers stressed that more work is needed to understand these potential pathways. Future longitudinal studies will be important for clarifying how early life experiences may shape health decades later.
