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# Greater exposure to estrogen linked to lower lung cancer risk
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/estrogen_lung_cancer_1111120214/
- Published: 2012-11-11T15:13:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:09:30.000Z
- Description: Comparing 407 women with lung cancer to 499 controls, researchers found later menopause, longer reproductive periods, hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptive use each tied to lower lung cancer risk. The study is not a trial and cannot show cause.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Disease, Health News, #vivvo-import

By Jimmy Downs

Sunday Nov 11, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in International Journal of Cancer suggests that having high levels of estrogen for a longer period may reduce the risk of lung cancer in women.

The study, which is not a trial and a causal relation could not be determined, merely found an association between exposure to estrogen during and after reproductive years and the risk of lung cancer. 

A.C. Pesatori of Università' degli Studi di Milano in Milan, Italy and colleagues conducted the study and found women who had first live birth were at 43 percent reduced risk of lung cancer.

They also found women experienced menopause at an older age were 51 percent reduced risk of lung cancer and those who had longer reproductive periods were 56 percent reduced risk.

An older age to give birth, experience menopause and having a longer reproductive period were associated increased risk of breast cancer because of increased exposure to estrogen, according to other studies. Women who entered their adulthood at a younger age tended to have menopause at an older age, and have a longer reproductive period. 

The researchers found the associations after analysing data from 407 female lung cancer patients and 499 female controls who were enrolled in the Environment And Genetics in Lung cancer Etiology (EAGLE) population-based case-control study.

For the study, participants were interviewed in person to assess information on demographics, education, smoking status, medical history, occupation, reproductive, and hormonal factors. 

In addition, the researchers also found women who used hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives were 37 and 33 percent reduced risk of lung cancer, respectively. But the duration of treatment did not seem to have an impact on the risk.

Postmenopausal status, both natural and induced, was correlated with an elevated risk of lung cancer.

The researchers concluded "the study suggests that women who continue to produce estrogen have a lower lung cancer risk. Large studies with great number of never smoking women, biomarkers of estrogen and molecular classification of lung cancer are needed for a more comprehensive view of the association between reproductive factors and lung cancer risk."

It should be noted that this study alone does not mean to encourage them to have great exposure to estrogen because studies have shown that great exposure to estrogen can increase risk of breast cancer and heart disease.

The most important risk factors for lung cancer include exposure to tobacco smoke, asbesto s, glassfibers, and pollutants such as radioactive rado n particles.