Genetics: Relative risk

Precautionary Principle: Cancer Prevention Efforts During Critical Periods of Growth and Development

Although the mechanisms of action for all cancer types are not fully known, best practice recommends promoting a healthy lifestyle while avoiding certain substances. Based on environmental science, the precautionary principle is a guideline that suggests that preventive action should be taken when the effects of a substance are unknown or disputed. Oncology nurses and maternal child healthcare professionals can improve cancer prevention through efforts during pregnancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. This article reviews the application of the precautionary principle during critical periods of growth and development and provides recommendations that may prevent epigenetic changes and reduce the risk for cancer.

The Association Between Body Size and Breast Cancer in Han Women in Northern and Eastern China

INTRODUCTION

Although obesity has been reported worldwide as a risk factor for breast cancer, there are still some inconsistencies regarding the association between obesity and breast cancer. Body mass index (BMI) is used most to assess the extent of obesity; however, the association of other body size characteristics, such as waist and hip circumference, with susceptibility to breast cancer in Chinese Han women needs to be better assessed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Female Chinese Han patients (N = 2,800) were recruited from 21 hospitals in northern and eastern China from April 2012 to April 2013 for a case-control study. The significant differences of factors related to body size between the breast-cancer case and control groups were determined by Student's t test and chi-square tests.

RESULTS

Premenopausal women with breast cancer had higher BMI and larger waist and hip circumferences (p = 2 × 10-4, <1 × 10-6, and 2 × 10-5, respectively). However, these body-size factors were not associated with postmenopausal breast cancer (p = .45, 0.32, and 0.12, respectively). BMI between 28 and 30 kg/m2 or greater than 32 kg/m2 was related to breast cancer incidence in the overall study population and in premenopausal women but not in the postmenopausal group.

CONCLUSION

Obesity is significantly associated with breast cancer in Chinese Han premenopausal women but not in postmenopausal women. Thus, it is important to realize that weight control, as well as avoiding abdominal obesity, should be considered as one of the most effective methods of reducing breast cancer risk.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

To better understand the characteristics and risk factors for breast cancer in Han women in northern and eastern China, a case-control study of 2,800 Chinese Han women was conducted. Obesity was significantly associated with breast cancer in Chinese Han premenopausal women but not in postmenopausal women. Consequently, controlling body weight and avoiding abdominal obesity should be considered as one of the most effective methods of reducing breast cancer susceptibility. However, the diversity between this study's finding among Chinese Han women and other data previously reported among European and American populations still needs further investigation.