RESUMEN
Objective: To investigate a possible association between mastitis and breast cancer risk in a cohort of Greek women. Material and methods:A series of 343 women who visited two breast clinics in Greece and delivered live neonates were studied in our case-control retrospective study. The case group comprised women with breast cancer and the control group women without breast cancer. All participants were subjected to a clinical examination with breast ultrasound and those aged over 40 years underwent digital bilateral mammography. Results:The χ2 (chi-square) test was the statistical tool used by us. We noted a statistically significant relationship between mastitis and risk for breast cancer (p=0.04). Moreover, the relative risk for breast cancer among patients with mastitis was RR: 2.069. Conclusion:Our study showed a relation between mastitis and breast cancer. Mastitis could be a potential risk factor. Further studies with larger number of patients are mandatory in order to confirm this possible relationship.
RESUMEN
Background: According to data from World Health Organization, breast cancer constitutes the second most common diagnosed malignancy after lung cancer and the second leading cause of death among women in 2020, worldwide. The protective role of breastfeeding in the emergence of breast malignancy has been mentioned in several studies, indicating the important part it can have in the effort of reducing breast cancer's incidence. Objective: To investigate a possible association between breastfeeding and breast cancer risk in Greek women. Methods: Totally, 391 women participated in our case-control retrospective study. In the case group included 238 women with breast cancer, while in control group 153 women without breast cancer who were enrolled in two breast clinics in Greece. All women were examined clinically and with breast ultrasound, while those older than 40 years old also with bilateral digital mammography. Results: The x2 (chi-square) test found a statistically significant reverse correlation between breast cancer and breastfeeding ⩾12 months (cumulative) (p = 0.001). It was observed that the percentages of patients who breastfed ⩾12 months were lower than those of healthy women. Conclusion: Breastfeeding and particularly the cumulative period of ⩾12 months is related to the maximum of the protection from breast cancer.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: It is a global fact that the birth weight is increasing during the years around the world and for this reason it is very important to be examined as a potential risk factor for breast cancer. According to data from World Health Organization, breast cancer is the second most frequent malignancy across the world, after lung cancer, in Europe including Greece in incidence and mortality for women between the ages 0-85 years old. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association between neonatal birth weight of the women and breast cancer risk in Greek women. Although that many studies concluded that birth weight is positively related with breast cancer reinforcing the theory that breast cancer may originate in utero, some studies found no association. Moreover, the results from previous studies are inconsistent maybe due to several factors such as the study design and the number of cases. METHODS: This study was a case-control retrospective bicentric study. The case group included 238 women with breast cancer, while the control group included 153 women without breast cancer who consulted in two breast clinics in Greece. In all women, a clinical examination and breast ultrasound were achieved. Moreover, digital bilateral mammography was performed in patients older than 40 years. RESULTS: According to Fisher's exact analysis, there is a statistically significant relationship between the higher women's neonatal birth weight and the risk for breast cancer (p<0.001). More specifically in the group of women with breast cancer, 61% of them had more than 3500 grams birth weight, in contrast with 7.8 % in the control group. In our cohort, women who had birth weight more than 3500 grams are more likely to develop breast cancer in their life. CONCLUSION: Our study trend to show that the increased neonatal birth weight may influence future risk of breast cancer. However, further studies with larger number of participants are needed in order to clarify the role of birth weight as a complementary risk factor of breast cancer.
