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Rethinking the Risk: A Case-Control Study on the Low Prevalence of Established Breast Cancer Risk Factors in Young
1University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Indian Journal of Surgical Oncology
|June 1, 2026
Summary
Traditional breast cancer risk factors are uncommon in young Indian women, suggesting lifestyle changes alone don't explain the rising incidence. Further research into environmental and occupational factors is needed for this demographic.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Breast cancer incidence is rising rapidly in young Indian women (≤40 years).
- The role of lifestyle westernization in this demographic is largely unexplored.
- Traditional risk factors may not fully account for the increasing trend.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence of established and suspected breast cancer risk factors in Indian women aged ≤40 years.
- To identify factors associated with breast cancer in this specific age group.
- To inform future research directions beyond conventional risk factors.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted from September 2019 to April 2022.
- Included 272 biopsy-proven breast cancer patients (≤40 years) and 300 age-matched controls.
- Data collected via questionnaire on clinical history, lifestyle, and risk factors; analyzed using logistic regression (p<0.05).
Main Results:
- Low prevalence of traditional risk factors observed in both cases and controls.
- Breastfeeding showed a protective effect (p=0.038).
- Family history of breast cancer was a significant risk factor (OR=2.79, p≈0.05); other factors like early menarche, nulliparity, delayed pregnancy, and benign breast disease showed no significant difference.
Conclusions:
- Traditional risk factors do not adequately explain the rising breast cancer incidence in young Indian women.
- The influence of westernized lifestyles may be overstated or overly simplistic for this population.
- Further investigation into environmental, dietary, and occupational exposures is crucial.
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