Breast Cancer Articles

Dr. Curcio concurs with the conclusion of this newly released study that “obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption influence contralateral breast cancer risk, affording breast cancer survivors three means of potentially reducing this risk.”  Dr. Curcio understands the importance of the dietary role in breast cancer and actively works with Suellen Scarf, MS, RD to provide dietary risk assessments and nutritional counseling.  To schedule a consultation with Dr. Curio or Suellen Scarf, Registered Dietitian to assess your risk and/or improve your nutritional health, call our office.

Relationship Between Potentially Modifiable Lifestyle Factors and Risk of Second Primary Contralateral Breast Cancer Among Women Diagnosed With Estrogen Receptor–Positive Invasive Breast Cancer

Christopher I. Li,^* Janet R. Daling, Peggy L. Porter, Mei-Tzu C. Tang, and Kathleen E. Malone
From the Divisions of Public Health Sciences and Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA.

Purpose: An outcome of considerable concern among breast cancer survivors is the development of second primary breast cancer. However, evidence regarding how potentially modifiable lifestyle factors modulate second breast cancer risk is limited. We evaluated the relationships between obesity, alcohol consumption, and smoking on risk of second primary invasive contralateral breast cancer among breast cancer survivors.

Methods: Utilizing a population-based nested case-control study design, we enrolled 365 patients diagnosed with an estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) first primary invasive breast cancer and a second primary contralateral invasive breast cancer, and 726 matched controls diagnosed with only an ER+ first primary invasive breast cancer. Obesity, alcohol use, and smoking data were ascertained from medical record reviews and participant interviews. Using conditional logistic regression we evaluated associations between these three exposures and second primary contralateral breast cancer risk.

Results: Obesity, consumption of 7 alcoholic beverages per week, and current smoking were all positively related to risk of contralateral breast cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.1; OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.2; and OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.0, respectively). Compared with women who consumed fewer than 7 alcoholic beverages per week and were never or former smokers, women who consumed 7 drinks per week and were current smokers had a 7.2-fold (95% CI, 1.9 to 26.5) elevated risk of contralateral breast cancer.

Conclusion: Our population-based study adds to the limited available literature and suggests that obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption influence contralateral breast cancer risk, affording breast cancer survivors three means of potentially reducing this risk.

Source:  JCO Early Release, published online ahead of print Sep 8 2009
Journal of Clinical Oncology, 10.1200/JCO.2009.23.1597  

Received March 19, 2009  and  Accepted June 16, 2009

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