Why are larger animals less likely to develop cancers?

Question

Why are larger animals less likely to develop cancers?

In: Biology

Answer 1

I think most are equally as likely to develop cancer, but their size means that the cancer takes much longer to cause serious damage as all cancers grow at a similar rate regardless of the size of their host.

Some very large animals such as whales have another mechanism which defends them, known as supercancers. This is essentially when the cancer develops its own cancer (or a different cancer) which competes with the initial tumor for space and resources. This will either result in the death of the initial cancer, or will slow the growth of both cancers, effectively delaying the death of the animal.