Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review
About
Prospective study of relative weight and risk of breast cancer: the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project follow-up study, 1979 to 1987-1989
Yong, L. C., Brown, C. C., Schatzkin, A., Schairer, C. American Journal of Epidemiology. 1996. 143:10, 985-95.
Topic area
Body size
Body size
Study design
Prospective cohort
Prospective cohort
Funding agency
NCI ACS
NCI ACS
Study Participants
Number of Cases
1,424 (226 pre) (1198 post)
1,424 (226 pre) (1198 post)
Menopausal Status
Post menopausal
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Pre menopausalPost menopausal
Number in Cohort
Cohort: 54,896
Cohort: 54,896
Cohort participation rate
Retention/participation exceeded 70% for exposed a
Retention/participation exceeded 70% for exposed a
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
In: participants of the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project (BCDDP) between 1973 and 1981
Ex: women diagnosed with breast cancer before the start of the follow-up or who had a nonmalignant or benign breast disease as a result of biopsies or had another breast surgery performed; women who were recommended to have a biopsy or other breast surgery but did not have the procedure performed; women who died before the baseline interview; women with bilateral prophylactic mastectomy at or before the baseline interview; women with missing information on weight and height; women that reported they had never menstruated or had inconsistent information on cessation of periods; women who reported natural or surgical menopause but had missing ages at menopause
Comment about participation selection
Strengths: prospective cohort with many postmenopausal cases; anthropometric data measured by trained staff; self-reported breast cancers were and reports of breast cancer on death certificates were matched to pathology reports; covered a total of 396,661 person years; fairly lengthy follow-up of 7 years; analyzed breast cancer risk by relative weight (kg/m^1.5) stratified by menopausal status, age and type of menopause
Strengths: prospective cohort with many postmenopausal cases; anthropometric data measured by trained staff; self-reported breast cancers were and reports of breast cancer on death certificates were matched to pathology reports; covered a total of 396,661 person years; fairly lengthy follow-up of 7 years; analyzed breast cancer risk by relative weight (kg/m^1.5) stratified by menopausal status, age and type of menopause
Exposures investigated
Relative weight (kg/m^1.5)
Relative weight (kg/m^1.5)
How exposure was measured
Questionnaire, in person Anthropometric measurement, researcher-administered
Questionnaire, in person Anthropometric measurement, researcher-administered
Breast cancer outcome investigated
Primary breast cancer
Primary breast cancer
Ethnic groups with separate analysis
If this study provided a separate analysis by ethnic or racial group, the groups are listed here.
No
Confounders considered
Other breast cancer risk factors, such as family history, age at first birth, and hormone replacement therapy use, that were taken into account in the study.
Adequately controlled, Confounders: education, age at first livebirth, parity, age at menarche, history of breast cancer in a first degree relative and benign breast disease, HRT use in post women
Genetic characterization included
If the study analyzed relationships between environmental factors and inherited genetic variations, this field will be marked “Yes.” “No”, if not.
No
Description of major analysis
Effect modifiers: menopausal status, age, type of menopause, age at menopause, duration of menopause, age at weight measurement Follow-up: 7 years
Effect modifiers: menopausal status, age, type of menopause, age at menopause, duration of menopause, age at weight measurement Follow-up: 7 years
Strength of associations reported
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk among women >65 years and women with a relative weight of >34.7 vs <26.8, OR=1.8(1.3-2.5) trend p=0.0002
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk among women <65 years who went through natural menopause and women with a relative weight of >34.7 vs <26.8, OR=1.5(1.1-2.0)
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk among women >65 years who went through natural menopause and women with a relative weight of >34.7 vs <26.8, OR=1.8(1.2-2.9)
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk among women >65 years and women with a relative weight of >34.7 vs <26.8, OR=1.8(1.3-2.5) trend p=0.0002
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk among women <65 years who went through natural menopause and women with a relative weight of >34.7 vs <26.8, OR=1.5(1.1-2.0)
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk among women >65 years who went through natural menopause and women with a relative weight of >34.7 vs <26.8, OR=1.8(1.2-2.9)