Related Experiment Videos
[Risk factors for breast cancer. Do epidemiologic findings provide a basis for primary prevention?]
1Institutt for hygiene og sosialmedisin, Universitetet i Bergen, Haukeland sykehus.
In Norway, approximately one in every 13 women will develop breast cancer. Epidemiological studies show rather consistent results regarding associations with some risk factors. Lowest risk is found in women with many children, early first birth, late menarche and early menopause. Recent studies indicate that a full-term pregnancy, after a short-lasting adverse effect, results in a risk-reduction of lifelong duration. The authors review the present knowledge of these and other risk factors of possible importance in the etiology; lactation, diet, body weight, physical activity, use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy. Primary preventive measures may potentially lead to substantial reduction in risk of breast cancer. However, it is difficult to suggest any feasible intervention strategy which would have a high probability of reducing occurrence of breast cancer in the general population.
In Norway, approximately one in every 13 women will develop breast cancer. Epidemiological studies show rather consistent results regarding associations with some risk factors. Lowest risk is found in women with many children, early first birth, late menarche and early menopause. Recent studies indicate that a full-term pregnancy, after a short-lasting adverse effect, results in a risk-reduction of lifelong duration. The authors review the present knowledge of these and other risk factors of possible importance in the etiology; lactation, diet, body weight, physical activity, use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy. Primary preventive measures may potentially lead to substantial reduction in risk of breast cancer. However, it is difficult to suggest any feasible intervention strategy which would have a high probability of reducing occurrence of breast cancer in the general population.