Abstract
A case-control study of 689 breast cancer patients seen at Tata Memorial Hospital during the period 1980-84 was carried out. During the same period 711 females who attended the hospital without a history of benign breast lesions or gynaecological complaints were selected as controls. Patients were interviewed by trained investigators to collect data on reproductive factors, menstrual history, tobacco smoking and chewing habit, dietary practices (vegetarian and non-vegetarian diet) and alcohol consumption. Cases and controls were stratified into four age groups (< 35 years, 35-44, 45-54 and 55+ years) and three places of residence (Bombay, Maharashtra, others). The adjusted relative risk (RR) for unmarried women compared with married women was 2.3. Nulliparous women had a 2.2-fold higher risk than parous women. Late age at marriage (30 years and above) and late age at first pregnancy (30 years and above) showed excess risks of 2.5 and 5.4 compared with women married at the age of 14 years and age at first pregnancy of < or = 14 years. Three or more pregnancies was associated with a 40-50% reduction in risk (P < 0.01). Non-vegetarian diet, literacy status and a history of stillbirth and abortion did not emerge as significant risk factors for breast cancer in our study. These findings, in a low-risk population, were consistent with those reported from high-risk populations.
Highlights
S_ary A case-control study of 689 breast cancer patients seen at Tata Memorial Hospital during the period 1980-84 was carried out
Patients were interviewed by trained investigators to collect data on reproductive factors, menstrual history, tobacco smoking and chewing habit, dietary practices and alcohol consumption
Case-control studies on breast cancer carried out in various parts of the world have highlighted the association with certain female reproductive factors, diet and familial history of cancer (MacMahon et al, 1970a,b; Adami et al, 1990; Wynder et al, 1991)
Summary
Patients attending Tata Memorial Hospital, before being medically examined, are interviewed by our social investigators. Data on tobacco smoking and chewing, dietary practices and alcohol habit were collected. Data on dietary practices are restricted to two major groups, vegetarian and nonvegetarian. During 1980-84, 689 female breast cancer patients were interviewed. Females who were referred to our hospital for suspected malignancies, mostly in the mouth and throat, and found to be free of cancer were considered as controls. Cases and controls were stratified into four age groups (
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