Overview
- A nationwide registry study, which was published Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, found an 80% higher rate of ischemic stroke in adults with a first invasive cancer compared with expected population rates.
- The excess risk was concentrated in the first three months after diagnosis when stroke rates were about 2.5 times higher and translated to 62 strokes per 10,000 patients in the first year.
- Relative risk varied sharply by tumor type, with pancreatic cancer showing the largest increase (5.9 times higher and 162 strokes per 10,000) and lung cancer also high (3.9 times), while breast and prostate cancers showed no increased risk.
- The analysis linked the Israel National Cancer Registry and the Israel National Stroke Registry for 182,221 adults aged 40 and older diagnosed from 2014–2021, and the authors note the findings show association not proof of causation.
- Clinically, the study flags the early post‑diagnosis months as a critical window and recommends targeted cerebrovascular assessment for younger patients, those with advanced disease, and patients with high‑risk tumor types to guide prevention and research.