Low testosterone linked to higher cancer death risk in men, study says

Men with very low testosterone face an 18% higher risk of dying from cancer, according to a study released by the University of Western Australia (UWA). The research followed more than 26,000 men and was published on Sunday, November 8, 2026.

The researchers analyzed 11 long-term studies carried out in Australia, Europe and the United States. They compared hormone measurements taken earlier in life with cancer outcomes years later. Bu Yeap, professor at the UWA School of Medicine and lead author of the study, is the researcher who presented the main findings.

Cancer risk rises below 8.6 nmol/L of testosterone

According to Yeap, the risk began to climb when baseline testosterone fell below 8.6 nmol/L, a level equal to about 248 ng/dL. “We saw that when baseline testosterone was below 8.6 nmol/L, subsequent cancer risk started increasing,” she said. The threshold is a measurement taken at the start of the follow-up, not a diagnosis, and the study does not define it as a clinical cutoff for treatment.

Learn more: Queen Camilla reveals difficulty in keeping King Charles' cancer a secret

Prostate cancer was not linked to testosterone levels

The study found that testosterone itself was not associated with prostate cancer risk. According to the study, prostate cancer was more closely tied to low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and of luteinizing hormone, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that signals the testicles to make testosterone.

Association, not cause, the authors say

The authors state that the study shows an association and does not establish that low testosterone causes cancer. Because the work is observational, it cannot rule out other factors that affect both hormone levels and cancer outcomes.

See also: Marquinhos Menezes: community mourns the death of the ADVEC pastor, after battling cancer

No evidence yet that testosterone therapy lowers the risk

Yeap said the team has not found proof that giving testosterone to men reduces that risk. “While we’ve shown low levels are associated with increased risk, we haven’t got any evidence yet that actually giving men testosterone will reduce that risk,” she said. She added that unexpectedly low levels justify a broader medical evaluation.

Study figures at a glance

• Participants: more than 26,000 men
• Studies analyzed: 11 long-term studies in Australia, Europe and the United States
• Risk increase for men with very low testosterone: 18% higher risk of death from cancer
• Threshold where cancer risk began to rise: 8.6 nmol/L (about 248 ng/dL)
• Publication date: November 8, 2026, according to the UWA release
• Journal: The Lancet Healthy Longevity, according to a Men’s Journal report

Low T ads and TRT: the context of the debate

The study comes as commercials about “Low T” have spread on online and television platforms, suggesting a widespread drop in testosterone among American men. According to a Men’s Health survey cited in a report on the topic, 40% of men said their testosterone level mattered more to them than it did a year earlier. The same reporting says testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is increasingly marketed as a lifestyle supplement, and warns that unnecessary use can cause thickened blood, cardiovascular problems, physical dependency and infertility. Testosterone naturally declines by about 1% per year after age 30, but the source says true hypogonadism, the clinical condition in which the testicles do not produce enough hormone, is rare.

Hegseth orders testosterone screening for military in July 2026

In July 2026, Pete Hegseth ordered mandatory screening for testosterone deficiency for active and reserve military personnel aged 30 and over. The Endocrine Society, however, says there is not enough evidence to recommend population screening for hypogonadism in men without symptoms. In June 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to update the TRT label, a change that affects the label but does not alter clinical guidelines.

What is still not known about the study

The exact time of the study’s release has not been confirmed; the only date available is November 8, 2026, shown on the ScienceDaily page that republished the UWA release. The direct quotes from the researchers have not been checked against a primary source, such as the journal or the UWA release. There is also no confirmation that the study has changed any clinical guideline.

The Endocrine Society states there is not enough evidence for population screening of hypogonadism in men without symptoms.