Cases Of Breast Cancer Among Chinese Women Likely To Increase Significantly In Future Years, Study Finds

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Article Date: 29 Sep 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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Cases of breast cancer in Chinese women likely will increase significantly in future years unless they avoid some of the well-established risk factors tied to breast cancer, such as weight gain and limiting alcohol consumption, according to a study published this week in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Reuters reports. For the study, Eleni Linos of Stanford University Hospital and other researchers examined the results of a statistical analysis and data on lifestyle changes in Chinese women.

The study estimated that the rate of new cases of breast cancer among Chinese women ages 55 to 69 would increase from 10 to 60 cases per 100,000 women currently to more than 100 cases per 100,000 women by 2021. In addition, the study estimated that 2.5 million Chinese women who were between ages 35 and 49 in 2001 will develop breast cancer by 2021. "The current incidence of breast cancer in China is low compared with the rate in Western countries. But as more Chinese women adopt a Western life style, the rate is expected to climb," the researchers said in a statement.

In an e-mail, Linos wrote, "Limiting alcohol use and avoiding weight gain can decrease a woman's risk of breast cancer," adding, "Avoiding hormone replacement therapy may relate to lower breast cancer risk in China, as in other countries. Having children early, rather than later on in life, may play a role." She also cited the need for breast cancer screening and other prevention efforts. Linos wrote, "Our estimates show that such efforts can prevent hundreds of thousands of cases of breast cancer in China over the coming years" (Tan, Reuters, 9/25).

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