The epidemiology of breast cancer
Levin, M.L.; Thomas, D.B.
Progress in Clinical and Biological Research 12: 9-35
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0361-7742 PMID: 918124 DOI: 10.1007/s11296-004-0007-9Document Number: 469609
Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women; it attacks about one in ten women during her lifetime, and the incidence has increased almost 100% over the past four decades. The epidemiology of breast cancer (BC) has been intensively assessed in a number of large and often high-quality studies. While many still consider it a disease without known cause, the fact is that BC is also a multifactor disease, with contributing risk factors in the genetic constitution, from foetal exposures and from reproductive parameters. We are able to explain almost the entire increase in the occurrence of this disease primarily by the changes in age at first childbirth, the menarche, number of born children, and the increased frequency of adiposity. Prevention of BC should focus on these reproductive parameters, on alcohol and on physical activity, whereas the prophylactic impact of exogenous hormones, smoking, and lactation is limited.
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