Multiple Primary Cancers in Women with Breast Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): Evans H S, Lewis C M, Robinson D, Bell C M J, Møller H, Hodgson S V
Primary Institution: Thames Cancer Registry, Division of Oncology, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, Kings College, London, UK
Hypothesis
Women diagnosed with breast cancer have an increased risk of developing multiple primary cancers.
Conclusion
Women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50 have significantly higher risks for several other cancer types compared to those diagnosed at age 50 and above.
Supporting Evidence
- Women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50 had significantly elevated risks for 9 cancer sites.
- These cancer sites include oesophagus, stomach, lung, bone, connective tissue, breast, corpus uteri, ovary, and myeloid leukaemia.
- The study suggests that some associations may be linked to inherited cancer susceptibility genes or shared environmental factors.
Takeaway
If a woman gets breast cancer before she turns 50, she might also get other types of cancer more often than women who get breast cancer later.
Methodology
The study compared observed numbers of subsequent cancers in women with a first breast cancer diagnosis to expected numbers using standardized incidence ratios.
Participant Demographics
Women diagnosed with breast cancer in southeast England between 1961 and 1995.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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