foodconsumer.org: Giving birth early cuts breast cancer risk

Giving birth early cuts breast cancer risk
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admin on 10/14/2009 03:01:00
 
Tuesday Oct 13, 2009 (foodconsumer.org) – A new study confirmed what has been
found earlier: women who have not given birth or given birth at an older age are
at higher risk of breast cancer.
The study published in the Oct 15, 2009 issue of International Journal of Cancer
found that women who had not given birth in their life time were 39 percent more
likely to have breast cancer, 89 percent more likely to have larger tumors, and
193 percent more likely to have grade III tumors.
For the study, Butt S and colleagues from Malmö University Hospital, 205 02
Malmö, Sweden analyzed data from 17,035 women who participated in The Malmö
Diet and Cancer Study to see how nulliparity or having children at an older age
may affect the risk of breast cancer.
The researchers also found giving first childbirth at an older age was
associated with 39 percent increased risk of breast cancer.  Giving birth at an
older age was also linked to  151 percent increased risk for lobular type of
tumors and 167 percent increased risk for grade III tumors.
The researchers concluded "nulliparity and late first childbirth are associated
with relatively more aggressive breast cancer subgroups."
By David Liu davidl at foodconsumer dot org