Cancer risks fall with educational level

Further evidence linking higher education with health benefits has emerged in a US study.

Research by the American Cancer Society found that black men who had higher education were half as likely to die of prostate cancer as those with less time spent in education.

Breast cancer deaths were also lower among more educated women, although black women were still more likely than white women to die from the disease.

The study used census data on 137,708 black and white 25 to 64-year-olds who died of cancer. The researchers said it could be useful to identify and help groups at risk of having cancer by looking at their race and educational level.