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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1977

Unilateral breast-feeding and breast cancer.

Women of fishing villages in Hong Kong by custom breast-feed with only the right breast. The hypothesis that the unsuckled breast may have an altered risk of cancer development was investigated. Records of the radiotherapy divisions in Hong Kong between 1958 and 1975 were searched, and breast-cancer patients were interviewed for a detailed history of lactation. The overall left/right ratio of cancer in the breasts of 2372 women with unilateral breast carcinoma was 0-97, indicating that breast cancer was equally distributed between the two sides. Of 73 patients with a history of exclusively one-sided breast-feeding, 27 of 34 patients aged 55 or over (79-4%) and 19 of 39 patients under age 55 (48-7%) had a carcinoma in the unsuckled breast. Comparisons of patients who had nursed unilaterally with nulliparous patients and with patients who had borne children but had not breast-fed indicated a highly significant increased risk of cancer in the unsuckled breast. No statistically significant differences in laterality of breast cancer were found in 52 patients who had for convenience nursed to a greater extent from one side than the other. This study indicates that in post-menopausal women who have breast-fed unilaterally, the risk of cancer is significantly higher in the unsuckled breast and that breast-feeding may help to protect the suckled breast against cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Psychological distress and surveillance behaviors of women with a family history of breast cancer.

Women with a family history of breast cancer are at increased risk for developing the disease. This study investigated the beliefs of women at high risk for breast cancer (one or more first-degree relatives with breast cancer) about their breast cancer risk and the impact of this information on their surveillance behaviors and psychological distress. The Health Belief Model and the Fear Arousing Communications Theory were used in this study. Two hundred and seventeen women, enrolled in a breast protection program, completed a questionnaire regarding health beliefs and behaviors, social support, and psychological distress. While 94% came in for regularly scheduled mammograms, only 69% came in for regular clinical breast examinations. A discriminant function analysis revealed that increased cancer anxiety decreased regular clinical examinations (coefficient = -.65). Only 40% performed breast self-examination monthly, 10% never performed breast self-examination, and 50% did not perform breast self-examination regularly. High breast self-examination performance prior to coming to the program was the best predictor of current breast self-examination, and high anxiety predicted poor adherence to monthly breast self-examination (multiple R = .61). More than 27% of the women at high risk were defined as having a level of psychological distress consistent with the need for counseling. Women reporting more barriers to screening, fewer social supports, and low social desirability had more psychological distress (multiple R = .75). Higher anxiety was directly related to poor attendance at a clinical breast examination and poor adherence to monthly breast self-examination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Pain treatment in gynaecological cancer.

Women suffering from gynaecological malignancies are highly represented in patients with cancer pain: 19.3% of tumour related deaths in females are caused by breast carcinoma, 7.1% by carcinoma of the uterus, 6.7% by ovarian carcinoma and 2.3% by other malignant gynaecological tumours. These tumours may give rise to severe pain due to osseous metastases, nerve or plexus infiltration, soft tissue infiltration and (in the case of ovarian carcinoma) obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. The experience represented in the literature and our own experience demonstrate that there are very effective measurements of symptom control in cancer pain. Based on the results of a specialized cancer pain control clinic at the University of Düsseldorf, Germany, recommendations will be given for the treatment of cancer pain. The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, weak and strong acting opioids and co-analgesics in relation to the different sites of metastases as well as neurosurgical and anaesthetic manoeuvres are the subject of the presentation. Furthermore an overview of the psycho-social care of cancer patients by the social worker and the priest will be given.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Geographical variations and recent trends in cancer mortality in Northern Ireland (1979-88).

Cancer mortality in the 35-74 year age-range for selected sites during the period 1979-88 was investigated for the 26 district council areas of Northern Ireland. Trends in rates during the period were also studied and compared with trends in an earlier period, and with trends reported from the rest of the United Kingdom. Statistically significant differences between the age-standardised death rates in the 26 areas were observed for stomach cancer (women only), pancreatic cancer (women only), lung cancer (men and women) and for all cancers (men and women). Some evidence of spatial aggregation of rates was apparent for ovarian cancer even though rates in the 26 areas did not differ significantly. The patterns are illustrated with maps and some difficulties of interpretation are discussed. Mortality rates for oesophageal cancer increased during the period in both sexes while rates for stomach cancer decreased. Colon cancer rates increased significantly only in men, while an increase in lung cancer rates was confined to women. The mortality from all cancers increased significantly during the period by 0.8% per annum in men and 0.9% per annum in women. These trends were found to be broadly comparable with those reported elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Changes observed in antioxidant system in the blood of postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

From experimental studies and epidemiological data, it can be inferred that lipid peroxidation is increased in cancer patients. Cases of post-menopausal, untreated women with benign and malignant breast tumours, were compared with their age matched controls in their serum lipid peroxides, antioxidant vitamins (E and C), serum selenium and serum ceruloplasmin. Erythrocyte and its membrane lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase) levels were also analyzed. Significant increase in circulating lipid peroxides, ceruloplasmin and significant decrease in antioxidant vitamins and selenium were observed in breast cancer women. The erythrocyte and its membrane lipid peroxidation was increased significantly and severe impairment of antioxidant potential was observed in breast cancer women.

Aging↗
PubMed1976

What should the physician ask?

The physician who deals with the general public rather than with high risk groups has a considerable disadvantage to overcome. This is because the effectiveness or impact of a control program is directly related to the prevalence of the condition sought in the population at hand. Thus, the physician must develop a set of "verbal screens" which will permit him to select the sub-segments of his general population which should be screened conventionally. These verbal screens may be of two types: 1) a simple inquiry as to whether a generally accepted screening test has been applied within the last year or two, and 2) an inquiry as to whether any risk factors of the more common cancers are present. For cancer of the cervix, women who have first intercourse at an early age or who are of the lower social strata should be identified for screening. For breast cancer, women who are nulliparous, have first birth at a late age, or a family history of breast cancer should be identified.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1975

Validity of clinical examination and mammography as screening tests for breast cancer.

This study is aiming to determine the validity and observer variability of clinical examination and mammography as screening tests for breast cancer. Women over the age of forty are given two independent clinical examinations of the breasts, and mammograms are taken and read independently by two radiologists. This paper presents the results of screening the first 1215 women to be enrolled in the study. At their first screening attendance, 231 women (19%) were referred for surgical opinion, 119 (9-8%) underwent biopsy, and cancer was diagnosed in 17 (1-4%). 2 further cancers were diagnosed in the ensuing six months among women who had been negative on initial screening, representing a false-negative rate of 2 out of 19 (11%). Clinical examination resulted in 189 referrals (15-6%), 90 biopsies (7-4%), and detected 11 cancers; corresponding figures for mammography were 76 referrals (6-3%), 55 biopsies ((4-5%), and 14 cancers. Observer variability was greater for clinical examination than for mammography. These early results suggest that as a screening test mammography compares favourably with clinical examination, but both tests are necessary if many false negatives are to be avoided.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Women and smoking: current trends and issues for the 1990s.

Despite significant change in smoking patterns among women during the 1980s, the toll in tobacco-related morbidity and mortality remains high and will continue to rise for some diseases (e.g., lung cancer). Women with lower educational attainment are at particularly high risk for smoking initiation and continuation. Advances in gender-specific knowledge regarding the processes of initiation, cessation, and relapse provide more specific opportunities for targeted intervention. Strategies for change involve media, clinical approaches, and public health efforts. Emphasis needs to be placed on tailoring the message and on utilizing innovative channels through which women can be effectively reached. Advocacy groups are targeting public policies affecting women. Ongoing gender-specific research is needed in the next decade.

Female↗
PubMed1991

Seasonal changes in serum melatonin in women with previous breast cancer.

A seasonal variation in the month of initial detection of breast cancer has been previously observed in pre-menopausal women, and it has been proposed that this may be due to cyclic changes in tumour growth mediated by the effects of melatonin on ovarian function. To investigate this possibility serum melatonin concentrations have been measured every 2 h for 24 h at the summer and winter solstice in 20 pre-menopausal women with previous breast cancer and nine controls. Twelve women had detected their tumour in winter and eight in summer. Overall melatonin secretion assessed by either amplitude of the nocturnal melatonin pulse or the area under the 24 h melatonin curve (AUC) was not different between breast cancer women or controls. However, the amplitude and AUC fell in winter in breast cancer patients (summer to winter 93.6 to 77.5 pg ml-1, P less than 0.002 and 743 to 634 AUC units, P less than 0.005 for amplitude and AUC respectively), whereas the winter minus summer values were significantly positive in controls compared with cancer patients. The abnormal fall in winter values in the women with previous breast cancer was confined to the group of women who had been winter detectors (mean summer to winter levels 94.9 to 72.6 pg ml-1, P less than 0.01 and 775 to 637 AUC units, P less than 0.05 for amplitude and AUC respectively) whereas there was no significant seasonal alteration in these measurements in summer detectors. The acrophase of the nocturnal pulse of serum melatonin was significantly advanced in both groups of women with previous breast cancer (change in acrophase winter to summer from 0210 h to 0140 h in summer detectors, P less than 0.01, 0330 h to 0210 h in winter detectors, P less than 0.05) with a similar although nonsignificant trend in control women. The abnormal reduction of serum melatonin seen in wintertime in winter detectors of breast cancer could promote tumour growth at this season and so contribute to the decreased survival previously observed in this group compared with summer detectors. The relatively normal seasonal profile of melatonin observed in summer detectors could allow increased ovarian steroidogenesis in spring/summer with a resulting increase in tumour growth and consequent rise in tumour detection rate at this time.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Factors influencing women to undergo screening mammography.

Despite the fact that mammography is a valuable tool for early detection of breast cancer, the majority of age-eligible American women do not avail themselves of screening mammography. To better understand why women do or do not undergo mammography and to further develop guidelines for promoting breast cancer screening, the authors investigated what impact personal factors, attitudes, and health-related behaviors have on compliance with screening mammography by surveying 521 women for information related to health behavior, health concerns, sense of well-being, satisfaction with health care, and knowledge about breast cancer. Women who underwent mammography were more likely to have a regular physician, to practice breast self-examination, to be less concerned over the cost of mammography, to be generally satisfied with their health care, to believe they have a greater sense of control over their health, and to be more knowledgeable about mammography and breast cancer. Age, health behavior, sense of well-being, locus of control, and breast cancer experience helped differentiate between women who had undergone mammography and those who had not.

Adult↗
PubMed2026

Systemic immune activation in hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Immune surveillance mechanisms contribute to the elimination of precancerous lesions in hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes (HCPSs). METHODS: By combining single-cell transcriptomics, multiparametric mass cytometry and cytokine profiling of the systemic immune environment in 391 individuals among whom 227 are living with HCPSs we investigated phenotypic alterations in cancer-free individuals with HCPS. RESULTS: A decrease in peripheral B cell abundance and their more differentiated phenotype have been confirmed both in breast cancer patients with germline pathogenic variants in BRCA1 (gpath(BRCA1)) and in patients living with Lynch syndrome (LS). Pre-cancer women with gpath(BRCA1) exhibited an activated phenotype of multiple immune cell lineages, similar to those with manifest disease. In LS, B cell phenotypes exhibited the largest changes in response to cancer eradication, while increased peripheral IL-6 levels was detected even in presymptomatic individuals with LS. CONCLUSIONS: HCPS-specific differences in the phenotype of the systemic immune system might be leveraged in future risk-reducing strategies.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Prospective evaluation of serum CA 125 levels for early detection of ovarian cancer.

Detection of ovarian cancer at an early stage should reduce the mortality associated with this disease. Through the Stockholm Population Registry, 5550 apparently healthy women were enrolled in a study designed in part to define the use of the CA 125 radioimmunoassay (RIA) as an initial test for early detection of ovarian cancer. Women whose CA 125 levels were elevated and an equal number of age-matched controls with normal levels were followed by means of pelvic examinations, transabdominal sonography, and serial CA 125 determinations. Of the 175 women with high CA 125 levels, six were found to have ovarian cancer: two each in stages IA, IIB, and IIIC. Of those with normal-range CA 125 levels, three had ovarian cancer as identified through the Swedish Cancer Registry; all three were under 50 years of age. Ovarian cancer was diagnosed on laparotomy in six of the women age 50 or over. Using thresholds of 30 and 35 U/mL, the rates of specificity for the CA 125 RIA were 97 and 98.5%, respectively, for women age 50 or older, and 91 and 94.5%, respectively, for those younger than 50 years of age. Thus, the specificity of the CA 125 RIA is adequate in postmenopausal women to undertake a larger study to determine whether screening using CA 125 influences survival of patients with ovarian cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Neoplastic effects of oral contraceptives.

The potential association between the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) and certain types of cancer remains an important concern. Epidemiologic studies published over the past decade indicate that the overall risk of breast cancer is not increased among women exposed to OCs. Some studies have suggested an increased risk among younger women with long-term use, and this issue requires further study. OCs confer significant protection against endometrial and ovarian cancers, and the effect is duration-related: longer use is more protective. In the largest study to date, the protection against these two types of cancer persisted for at least 15 years after OCs were discontinued. Several studies have linked long-term OC use with an increased risk of cervical cancer or its precursors, but methodologic difficulties in studying cervical cancer are such that the potential association with OC use may never be clarified. A large international study has found no association between OC use for any duration and liver cancer. Neither malignant melanoma nor pituitary adenoma appears to be linked to OC use. In summary, OCs protect against endometrial and ovarian cancers and have no overall effect on the risk of breast cancer. Women using OCs should have regular Papanicolaou screening.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[The early diagnosis of cancer of the breast remains insufficient. A study of breast monitoring in women over 50 years of age in Lorraine-Champagne].

Although breast cancer in women over 50 years of age can be detected by physical examination and mammography, in our region many women of that age do not benefit from a satisfactory breast surveillance: 52.4% of women who had a general check-up between February and May 1989 have their breast examined by a physician once a year or more often; only 30% had a mammography less than three years ago; 34.2% examine themselves at least once a month. Overall, only one out of four women aged over 50 is under satisfactory breast surveillance; this small group of women is characterized by a personal history of breast disease or a family history of breast cancer. Women aged between 50 and 59 years tend to have more regular breast examination than older women. Social or geographical particularities do not seem to provide a significant explanation.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1978

Relationship between urine and plasma estrogen ratios.

Normal young and postmenopausal women were placed into groups according to the ratio of the estrogens in their urine. Women whose ratio was greater than 1.3 if young and greater than 3.2 if postmenopausal were compared to women whose ratio was less than 0.7 and less than 2.1 for young and postmenopausal, respectively. Between the respective high- and low-ratio groups, there were no significant differences for circulating levels of estriol, metabolic clearance rates of estriol, or blood production rates of estriol, estrone, or estradiol. Women who had had breast cancer were compared to a group of normal controls and were also found to have similar blood production rates for estriol, estrone, and estradiol. The ratios of the blood production rates of estriol to estrone and estradiol were similar for the high and low groups for young and postmenopausal women and also between the breast cancer women and their controls. It appears, therefore, that the difference in urinary estrogen ratios is primarily due to different pathways of metabolism of the free circulating estrogens and not to differences in the production rates of the estrogens. Estriol is produced at only 10% the rate of estrone and estradiol.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1979

Intravaginal estrogen creams and endometrial cancer: no causal association found.

In two case-control studies of estrogens and endometrial cancer, women were asked about previous use of intravaginal estrogen creams. In a set of cases and controls chosen by conventional procedures from a tumor registry, the odds ratio was 0.90. In an alternative set of cases and controls who had all received dilatation and curettage or hysterectomy, the odds ratio was 0.82. Despite the reported relationship between oral estrogens and endometrial cancer and although intravaginal estrogen creams are readily absorbed by the vaginal mucosa, we detect no causal association for their use.

Connecticut↗
PubMed1977

Twenty-four-hour preoperative endocrine profiles in women with benign and malignant breast disease.

Mean 24-hr growth hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, and progesterone concentrations determined preoperatively in 16 women with benign breast masses and 17 patients with breast cancer were similar to those levels found in 25 age- and weight-matched control subjects. Mean 24-hr testosterone levels, however, were significantly elevated in women with breast cancer evaluated in the luteal phase of their cycles and were normal in postmenopausal breast cancer women. In addition, serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were normal in these subjects. Plasma cortisols and urinary 17-hydroxysteroid excretion tended to be higher in both the benign and malignant breast disease group and probably reflected preoperative anxiety. Hence, we have found normal concentrations of a variety of endocrine and other biochemical agents that can stimulate breast tissue growth and/or have been previously reported to be disordered in women with breast cancer.

Adult↗