Height, weight, weight change and risk of breast cancer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

CONTEXT:The relationship between body size and breast cancer still remains controversial in considering menopausal status. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the association of height, weight and weight changes with breast cancer in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. DESIGN:Case-control study. SETTING: MAIN MEASUREMENTS:Height and weight were measured and information on maximum weight, weight at ages 18 and 30 years, and potential risk factors were ascertained by interview at the hospital. RESULTS:Height was not related to risk of breast cancer among both pre and postmenopausal women. Nevertheless, women in this study were shorter than in studies that have found a positive association. Premenopausal women in the upper quartile of recent body mass index (BMI) and maximum BMI showed a reduced risk of breast cancer (P for trend ≤ 0.03). Weight loss between ages 18 and 30 years and from 18 years to present was also associated with breast cancer among premenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS:These findings may merely indicate the known association between leanness and breast cancer. Further studies should explore the role of weight loss on breast cancer risk.

Antropometria e perfil lipídico em mulheres com câncer de mama: um estudo caso-controle

“…These data are conflicting with studies in North American countries, which showed that taller women have higher risk of developing breast cancer 23 . In Brazil, considering the population of the south / southeast, in some studies height did not influence the risk for breast cancer 7,24 .…”

“…Among the techniques used in the determination of body composition in patients with cancer, there is anthropometry, an easy to perform, affordable and accurate exam, which allows obtaining reliable results [6][7][8] .…”

“…In Brazil and other countries with large racial variation, anthropometric information related to body fat in women 9 , especially those with breast cancer 7,10 , have limitations that may be related to available resources, including technology and more precise equipment, or even to reasons of racial differences per se 11 .…”

In vitro response of the human breast cancer cell line MDAMB-231 and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to 60Co at single fraction

“…Breast cancer is a public health issue in South America, involving about 70.000 cases of which 30.000 are fatal according to WHO database (Jones andBurnett, 1990, Schwartsmann, 2001). Argentina is one of the countries of the world that presents a major incidence of breast cancer, while in Brazil, breast cancer also reaches a high-level of incidence, followed by skin and lung cancer (Lester andCotran, 1999, Tessaro et al, 2001;Vasconcelos et al, 2001). The surgical method associated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the primary clinical intervention in patients without distant metastasis (Way, 1991).…”

Prevalence of breast cancer in the city of Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil, between 1988 and 2002

“…However, the same has not occurred for women over 70 years old. 26,[29][30][31][32] The reasons for the increase in breast cancer prevalence in Goiânia are not well defined, because of difficulties in establishing the proportions of the contributions between mammographic screening and treatment. We believe that both favor increased survival and reduced mortality among women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, which would lead to an increase in the prevalence rate.…”