Oncologists and haematologists have warned Nigerians against the new trend of tattoos, warning that the art, which is a type of body modification, has been linked to increased risk of blood cancers, especially lymphoma – blood cancer.
The experts, who spoke exclusively with PUNCH Health He explained that certain chemicals found in tattoo inks, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons known to have carcinogenic properties, can contribute to the development of these blood cancers.
They warn that these carcinogenic chemicals can trigger an immune response in the body, leading to the development of blood cancers.
Recall that the 2024 Ojude Oba Day celebration attracted considerable attention on social media, especially with a cancer survivor identified as Farooq Oreagba, who stole the show, capturing hearts with his charismatic presence.
The highlight of the festival was when Oreagba, dressed in full aso-oke agbada attire, appeared on his horse, complete with a striking tattoo on his arm.
Photos and videos of Oreagba quickly circulated online, with many Nigerians expressing admiration for his tattoo and wishing to get a similar one themselves.
However, oncology and hematology experts have been quick to advise people considering getting a tattoo to be aware of the potential risks.
Doctors said the tattooing process involves injecting ink under the skin, where it can migrate into the lymphatic system and reach the lymph nodes.
They explained that the presence of carcinogens in these inks can cause genetic damage and cellular changes that contribute to the development of lymphoma.
Dr Charles Okwonna, a clinical consultant in oncology, said the location and type of tattoo ink used are important factors influencing the risk of developing blood cancers.
The cancer specialist, who works at St. Luke’s Cancer Centre in the UK, explained that the risk of developing blood cancers from tattoos is higher for people who have them placed near lymph nodes, such as the neck, armpits and groin.
He said the latter were more likely to cause immune reactions because of higher chemical absorption in those areas.
He noted that the quality of the ink and the tattooing process can increase the risk of developing blood cancers.
According to him, the quality of the tattoo ink and the skill of the tattoo artist play a crucial role, adding that cheaper inks with more impurities can increase the risks.
Okwonna added: “Tattooing increases the risk of these blood cancers, but it is more linked to lymphomas. This has been established recently.
“In the process of drawing tattoos, the ink used contains a chemical that is carcinogenic or has been shown to contain a chemical that is carcinogenic, which we call polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and these chemicals have also been implicated in cancers in other parts of the body, particularly the nasopharynx.
“There have been many studies recently, particularly in Europe, that some of these inks contain these chemicals. In fact, during the process of drawing the tattoo, these chemicals cause a kind of complex reaction in the body, which we call an immunological reaction.
“So when chemicals are injected into you, either locally or sometimes they’re absorbed through the little lymphatic channels around the area of skin where you’re getting them, they’re absorbed. At a systemic level, your body sees this as a foreign body trying to invade and then triggers an immune response.
“The body triggers an immune response that tries to fight these chemicals. Over time, this immune response becomes exaggerated. When this happens, it begins to change from a normal immune response to dysplasia (the presence of abnormal cells in a tissue, which can mean a stage before cancer develops) and then to a malignant immune response.”
He added: “What this means is that when you get an infection or your body senses something happening to it, like a foreign body, it releases cells, and these cells are immunological. They include white blood cells, mast cells, etc. So the basic job of these cells is to try to release chemicals that will fight off these foreign bodies and stop them from doing harm to the body.”
Asked who is more likely to develop cancer from tattoos, the oncologist explained that individual sensitivity to these immune reactions varies.
Okwonna said factors such as overall immune strength and skin type, where melanin may offer some protection, contribute to different responses in different people.
“I can’t tell you what kind of ink it is, but I know for sure that there are several grades of this thing. And then, the more polished it is, the less likely it is to contain impurities and heavy metals that would cause this kind of immune reaction.
“Also, the tattooing process itself is also an issue, as well as the location of the tattoo.
“So having a tattoo somewhere far away, maybe on your feet, anywhere below your knee or even below your elbows, for example, is less likely to involve lymph nodes as opposed to having a tattoo right on your neck or very close to your armpit or near your groin.
“So there’s a good chance that tattooing in these areas where there’s a very high presence of lymph nodes will allow the ink and the chemicals in those inks to be absorbed very easily by the lymph nodes around that area. The higher the concentration of those chemicals in that area, the higher the chances of triggering an immune response. That’s why I talk about the sites and then the process itself: the less sharp the tattoo blade itself or the needle, the higher the chance of triggering an immune response,” he noted.
The doctor, however, stressed the importance of stricter regulation within the tattoo industry, noting that many tattooists prioritize profits over safety.
He called on the government and relevant agencies to implement standards that ensure safe ink compositions, professional practices and post-tattoo health assessments.
Okwonna said: “The government should set minimum standards for inks and instruments used in tattoos.
“In addition, health checks should be mandatory after tattooing to detect any potential health problems early.”
On his part, Dr Olaniyi Owoeye, a consultant haematologist at C Lab Nigeria, confirmed that tattoo inks contain chemicals that can cause genetic damage and lead to blood cancers.
Owoeye, who is also a professor at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, explained that the ink enters the bloodstream and ends up in the lymph nodes, where it can cause genetic damage over time.
The hematologist pointed out that this can lead to the development of lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.
The doctor argued that the risk of cancer appears to be directly related to the ink used, regardless of the size of the tattoo or its location on the body.
While acknowledging that not everyone who gets a tattoo will develop cancer, the expert stressed that some people may be more vulnerable.
He explained that multiple factors, including genetic variations and lifestyle behaviors like smoking, contribute to individual susceptibility to cancer, making it difficult to predict who might develop cancer after getting a tattoo.
He added: “I would also like to point out that the ink may not be the only important factor. There are also many other factors, such as the lifestyle of the person getting the tattoo, whether or not they smoke, and many risk behaviors that predispose to cancer. So it’s like a conglomerate of factors.”
“There are many factors that determine a person’s predisposition to cancer. And of course, I’m sure many people will agree with me that many people have tattoos, and they don’t end up getting cancer.
“Some people are even exposed to some of these carcinogens and don’t develop cancer. This shows that there are a lot of factors that determine predisposition to cancer. There are a lot of genetic variations from person to person that can affect that predisposition. And as I said earlier, it’s like a conglomerate of factors.”
He added: “Cancer formation is not usually caused by a single factor. Usually it’s almost as if a large number of factors come together to cause genetic damage, because naturally the body is resistant to this type of damage. There are important mechanisms in human DNA that protect the DNA itself from this type of damage.
“It is only when these protective mechanisms are overwhelmed or are themselves affected that cancer occurs.
“In some cases of cancer, some theories suggest that a single attack is usually not enough to cause cancer. It takes multiple attacks on the gene for this to happen. So that explains why there are inter-individual variations.”
Owoeye also stressed the importance of awareness and regulation in the tattoo industry.
He suggested that regulators enforce standards to ensure the safety of tattoo inks and procedures.
This approach, he argued, can help mitigate risks associated with carcinogenic ingredients in the ink and ensure that consumers are informed about the potential health implications of their tattoo choices.
The doctor stressed that although tattoos are popular and considered trendy, especially among younger populations, awareness of the health risks associated with them remains crucial.
He recommended that people considering getting a tattoo should educate themselves about the chemical components of the inks used and opt for safer alternatives to minimise potential health risks.
Meanwhile, a study recently published in the journal eClinicalMedicine found that having a tattoo was associated with a 21% higher likelihood of being diagnosed with lymphoma.
The study suggests that tattoos may be a risk factor for malignant lymphoma, which is justifiable from a public health perspective.
The researchers explained that the concern lies in the potentially cancer-causing chemicals in some tattoo inks. When injected, the body perceives them as foreign substances, triggering low-level inflammation that could contribute to the development of cancer.
The study involved 11,905 people, 2,938 of whom had lymphoma and were aged 20 to 60.
They were then given a lifestyle questionnaire to see whether they had tattoos or not.
1,398 participants responded to the questionnaire, while the number of people in the control group was 4,193.
In the lymphoma group, 21 percent were tattooed (289 individuals), while 18 percent were tattooed in the control group without a lymphoma diagnosis (735 individuals).
The study found no link between tattoo size and cancer risk.