Alcohol and risk of second breast cancer
Among women who have had cancer in one breast, drinking alcohol may increase risk of developing cancer in the other breast
Among women who have had cancer in one breast, drinking alcohol may increase risk of developing cancer in the other breast. However, this association is not seen with smoking.
Women who have survived a breast cancer are at an increased risk of developing the disease in the other breast. It is likely that women who do suffer from a second breast cancer have a higher prevalence of risk factors than those who do not develop it.
Researchers from Canada examined the role of alcohol intake or cigarette smoking, two potentially modifiable risk factors, in the development of a second breast cancer in the opposite breast. They studied 2107 women younger than 55 years of age diagnosed with breast cancer. Out of these, 708 women had developed a second cancer in the opposite breast while the other 1399 women having only one-sided cancer, acted as controls.
The team matched the women with a second new breast cancer with the women with cancer in one breast by birth year, diagnosis year, registry region, race, and radiation treatment. They then compared the women's self-reported history of alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking.
No significant increased risk was found associated with cigarette smoking, while regular alcohol consumption conferred a 30-percent elevated risk of developing cancer in the second breast. Compared with non-drinkers, longer duration alcohol consumption appeared to increase risk for cancer in the opposite breast.
The researchers concluded that women with a history of cancer in one breast have an increased risk of developing cancer in the second breast, the risk rising with alcohol consumption. Further investigations are required to find how drinking patterns over time affect risk, and whether factors such as genetics or other lifestyle habits also alter the effect of alcohol.
American Journal of Epidemiology
April 2009
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