By David Liu, PHD

Friday Sept 07, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- X-ray is used in medical diagnostic tools like mammography and for cancer treatment.  Many patients may not know that exposure to x-ray can increase risk of cancers including breast cancer.   A new study in Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention confirms that x-ray among other things can boost risk for breast cancer.

The study led by Y. Lin of Sun-Yat_Sen University in Guangzhou, China and colleagues found that x-ray, family history of breast cancer, benign breast disease and hyperlipoidemia or hypercholesteremia were all associated with elevated risk of breast cancer.

The study was based on data from 16,314 subjects in China who completed a questionnaire.  Of subjects, 33 reported a history of breast cancer.  Breast cancer strikes Chinese women at an younger age, compared to the Western women, the authors said.

The researchers concluded " Family history of breast cancer, X-ray received benign breast disease and hyperlipidemia or hypercholesterolemia were significantly associated with risk of breast cancer and may have potential for breast cancer risk assessment."

An authoritative organization say that among many potential risk factors for breast cancer, two risk factors are certainly to increase risk, which are medical radiation (in most cases, it means x-ray) and hormone replacement therapy.  Interestingly, both are indicated to diagnose and treat disease.  Instead, they increase risk of cancer.

Breast cancer is expected to be diagnosed in about 240,000 women in 2012 in the United States and the disease and its complications and treatment are expected to kill nearly 40,000 women in the country in 2012, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Breast cancer in many cases is preventable.  Following a healthy lifestyle including a healthy diet helps reduce the risk for this disease, which is expected to be diagnosed in 12.5% women in their lifetime in the U.S.