PH: Breast Cancer Epidemiology

Question 1

How does breast feeding affect your risk of developing breast cancer?

Answer 1

Reduces the risk; is protective

Question 2

How does obesity affect your risk of developing breast cancer in post-menopausal women?

Answer 2

Obesity confers a higher risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women – this is because in post-menopausal women oestrogens are produced by fat, not by the ovaries

Question 3

How does the presence of BRCA genes increase the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer?

Answer 3

BRCA1/2 gene conveys a lifetime risk of 60-80% in comparison to 10% for the general population

Question 4

In which group of breast cancer patients may aromatase inhibitors be used?

Answer 4

Post-menopausal women; as it only prevents oestrogen formation from fat sources, not ovarian