It might make you sneeze, wheeze and itch, but evidence is mounting that the hyperactive immune system responsible for allergies can also protect against brain cancer. Understanding the link may help provide new avenues for treating all cancers, say experts.Studies have found that people with atopic or allergic diseases – asthma, hay fever or eczema – show a reduced risk of being diagnosed with a primary brain tumour called a glioma. These tumours are notoriously deadly: just 3% of people with the most common form live five years beyond diagnosis.
