International Health Network

A new study that included 287,000 women and noticed their mammogram habits, says that increasing weight can boost the risk of developing breast cancer in older women.

Dr. Karla Kerlikowske, who led the study, says: “There are higher levels of circulating estrogens in women have increased body weight that leads to promote tumor growth in them.”

In another study, Kerlikowske and team have examined postmenopausal women with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and they have found higher risk of breast cancer in them.





In this new study, they looked at postmenopausal women who didn’t receive HRT. The study is to be published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Dec.3 issue.

Some researchers seem to believe that in obese women, the higher risk of the disease is because of their inadequate screening, as their tumors are quite difficult to find out in mammography.

But in the current study, these risk factors have been excluded. “In our study, we also examined how many times they were screened and how well the detection of cancer was and we still found a higher risk in them,” Kelikowske added.

In this study, data from mammograms of more than 287,000 women who had routine mammograms, the researchers concluded that it wasn’t hard to detect tumors in overweight women.

Women's Health, Cancer Breast cancer, HRT, increased body weight, mammograms, older women

The number of women, who are going for breast cancer gene test, is higher than ever, while leaving parents in tough scenario, either they go for their kid’s test or not.

Last year, 100,000 breast cancer gene mutation tests were done, which is twofold than the number of 2005. The trend can grow even more because of expanding insurance coverage and a new law banning genetic discrimination.

Medical expert recommend such testing after the age of 25, as a very little can be done to prevent or cure for breast or ovarian cancer until then, so the results would only create unwanted worry.

However, new studies and interviews by The Associated Press show that many people who have BRCA gene mutations and even more of their offspring, disagree.

Research also shows there can be benefits to at least talking about testing and inherited cancer risks with teens. It may lead some to quit smoking, limit alcohol and avoid birth control pills, which can raise the risk of breast cancer.

Women with a mutant gene have a three to seven time higher risk of developing breast cancer and a greater risk of ovarian cancer. Men have more risk of prostate, pancreatic and other types of cancer.

To reduce risk, women can use anti-estrogen drugs or removal of their breasts or ovaries. But these drastic procedures are not recommended to very young women. Even mammograms are not advised before age 25, because cancer is rare before then.

“The rule is, do no harm — test only if you can offer something that will help,” said Mary-Claire King, who in 1990 discovered the first breast cancer predisposition gene, BRCA-1.

“The life of a young girl is complicated enough already. There is nothing about it that needs to change” if she carries one of these genes, King said.

Women's Health, Cancer alcohol, anti-estrogen, BRCA, breast, Cancer, Gene, kids, women