New study points to possible link between tattoos and lymphoma, but experts say much more research is needed

CNN — A Swedish study has found a potential link between tattoos and a type of cancer called malignant lymphoma, but it ultimately calls for more research on the topic, and cancer experts say the possible link is overblown. “I would say the message here should be, we really didn’t learn a lot about whether tattoos are associated with cancer with this, and if I had to make a conclusion, I would say the data suggests there is no association,” Rebbeck said, noting that a smaller 2023 study on a connection between tattooing and lymphomas or hematologic cancer also found no increased risk. Dr. Catherine Diefenbach, director of the Clinical Lymphoma Program at the NYU Langone Health Perlmutter Cancer Center, said some things about the study don’t add up. “There are a lot of questions I have from this study.” Diefenbach said she’s never been asked about a connection between tattooing and cancer, but she has seen news reports about the new research. “I would say we really don’t know very much, but there’s no strong evidence that having a tattoo is going to cause cancer,” Rebbeck said.