Lifetime breast cancer risks among carriers of mutations of the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 have been estimated at 40-80 percent. The fact that some 20-60 percent of carriers live to advanced ages without developing the disease suggests that other genes or environmental exposures may modify carriers? breast cancer risks. At present, however, little is known about how a carrier's risk varies with her reproductive and menstrual history, her diet and alcohol intake, her physical activity patterns, and her exogenous hormonal exposures. Many of these attributes are well-established risk factors for breast cancer in the general populations of noncarriers. There is urgent need to determine which, if an, modifiable lifestyles characteristics may alter a carrier?s risk of developing breast cancer, to assist her in making rational, informed choices about such preventive options as prophylactic mastectomy and the use of chemopreventive agents such as tamoxifen and raloxifene. The investigators propose to use the CFRBCS data to analyze the relation between breast cancer risk and specific environmental and hormonal attributes among an anticipated 800 female carriers of mutations of BRCA1 or BRCA2. Attributes include: 1) reproductive characteristics; 2) exogenous hormone use; 3) diet; 4) body size; 5) physical activity; 60 radiation exposure; 7) alcohol consumption; 8) cigarette smoking. The investigators will use a retrospective cohort design. Specifically, they will compare the attributes of each female carrier affected with breast cancer to those of all female carriers in her birth cohort who were free of breast cancer at the age when she was diagnosed. This large group of more than 800 carriers of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations represents a unique resource for advancing our knowledge about breast cancer management in women at high risk for the disease.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 159 publications
