Analysis of odds ratio of increased relative risk of developing breast cancer in different groups of women.

Taking into account the large number and variety of factors of breast cancer there is constant need and necessity to monitor the risk of developing the disease. It is important to take preventive actions--health education concerning lifestyle and possible ways to modify unhealthy aspects. Quantitive assessment of risk of developing invasive breast carcinoma can be performed using the Gail model (GM). This method is designed to estimate relative and cumulative risk during the entire lifetime or at a certain age of a patient, considering risk factors. It is possible to identify women with increased risk of breast carcinoma and to choose a proper diagnostic path. The purpose of this study was to estimate the relative risk (RR) and to analyze the odds ratio (OR) of increased risk of developing breast cancer. The participants in the study were healthy women with no focal changes in mammary glands and women with diagnosed malignant or benign breast neoplasms. The total number of participants was 555 females aged 35-70 years. The study was carried on in the Great Poland and Lubuskie provinces between 2005 and 2006. High 5-year relative risk of developing breast cancer assessed by the Gail method, proved that this method was a useful tool in confronting reality. In classification of women to a group of increased risk of breast carcinoma, apart from assessment by the Gail method, factors like: BMI, education, medical interventions in puerperium and number of cases of familial invasive cancers should be taken into account.

Women's lifestyle and the risk of breast tumors.

The first behavioral aspect of mankind that has been commonly acknowledged as one of the main reasons for neoplasms is lifestyle. The specified lifestyle determines the exposure to the variety of carcinogens, whose crucial role in carcinogenesis is doubtless. The purpose of this study was to analyze women's lifestyle and its influence on the risk of developing breast cancer and benign tumors. The participants of the study were healthy women with no changes in mammary glands and women with diagnosed breast cancer or benign tumor. The total number of participants was 555 females aged 35-70 years. Every patient voluntarily filled in an anonymous questionnaire consisting of questions about socioeconomic conditions, number of cigarettes/daily, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Proper education concerning a healthy lifestyle can positively contribute to a reduction in breast cancer. A high value of BMI, especially in the postmenopausal period, is a negative predictive factor increasing the risk of breast cancer. Physical activity decreases the risk of breast cancer. No such relation concerning smoking cigarettes has been proven.

Past obstetric history and risk of malignant breast neoplasms.

Many studies indicate hormonal disorders as a crucial reason for breast pathology. They are also probably responsible for the development of benign neoplasms and play a role in the origin and development of breast carcinoma. Although the mammary gland is under the influence of many steroid and peptide hormones such as thyroid hormones, prolactin, growth hormone, glucocorticosteroids, it is estrogen that plays an important role in the development of breast cancer. The purpose of the study was to analyze the obstetrical past of patients and the potential influence on the risk of developing malignant breast neoplasms. The participants in the study were healthy women with no changes in mammary glands (control group) and women with diagnosed malignant or benign breast neoplasms (study group). The total number of participants was 555 females aged 35-70 years. The study was carried out in the Greater Poland and Lubuskie province between 2005 and 2006. Hormonal disorders in childhood and puberty symptoms of early menarche play a crucial role in increasing the risk of malignant breast neoplasms. In women who experienced one or more miscarriages the risk of malignant breast neoplasms is significantly increased. On the basis of our study we calculated the odds ratio (OR) of malignant breast neoplasms among women who during lactation experienced problems needing medical intervention (OR = 2.25; 95% CI, 1.20-4.19) in comparison to women who experienced no problems).