Men with long ring fingers up to 10% more likely to develop prostate cancer

Men with relatively long ring fingers may be more likely to develop prostate cancer, according to a new study.

New research shows they are up to 10 per cent more likely to get the disease, which is diagnosed in around 55,000 men in the UK each year.

Men with long ring fingers relative to their index fingers were also 15 per cent more likely to get aggressive cancer, according to the study in Cancer Epidemiology.

Exposure to higher levels of testosterone in the womb is thought to be responsible for both the finger ratio and the higher risk of cancer.

Researchers say the index finger to ring finger ratio – the so-called 2D-4D ratio – could become a marker for disease risk. 

Men with long ring fingers relative to their index fingers were also 15 per cent more likely to get aggressive cancer, according to the study in Cancer Epidemiology

 Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer, with more than 52,000 diagnoses and 12,000 deaths ever year

Academics from the University of Quebec said: ‘Our results suggest that high testosterone levels in utero may increase prostate cancer risk, especially for aggressive cancers.’

‘The 2D:4D ratio could prove to be an easily measured marker of prostate cancer risk.’

The study involved around 4,000 men, half of them diagnosed with prostate cancer, who had their finger ratios measured.

The ratio, calculated by dividing the length of the index finger by the length of the ring finger – is believed to indicate exposure to sex hormones in the womb.