Study: Stressful Job Can Increase Woman's Risk to Breast Cancer

Women with stressful jobs could be at greater risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new European study.
A study of more than 36,000 women found that those in demanding, full-time roles with little decision-making authority were 40 percent more likely than average to develop the disease.
(Read the complete story at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/02/nmedical202.xml)
The researchers, whose study was published online in the journal Epidemiology, adjusted their findings for other factors that could alter breast cancer risk such as weight, age, number of children and alcohol units.
They found that those whose professional roles involved high demands were on average 30 per cent more likely to have developed breast cancer during the study period.
According to the published article, participants whose work provided them with little decision-making authority were also 30 percent more likely to develop the disease.
Those with both demanding jobs and little control over decisions were on average 40 percent more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Previous studies have suggested stress could lead to greater production of oestrogen, which can lead to increased breast cancer risk.
Another possibility is that women with more stressful jobs are potentially more likely to smoke and have unhealthy diets, and less likely to do enough exercise.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Bay State Parent magazine produced Think Pink: A Guide Devoted to Breast Cancer Awareness in the October issue. To read the article in the guide visit:http://baystateparent.com/

Bay State Parent magazine is also a sponsor of the American Cancer Society's 15th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, Oct 14. For more information, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b&pg=entry&fr_id=3496&JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b