Aug 02, 2012 at 11:30am

Women with large breasts have a higher incidence of breast cancer than those with average-sized breasts, according to a study by medical students and researchers at The University of Western Australia (UWA) and BreastScreen WA (Western Australia).

Corresponding author UWA Clinical Associate Professor Liz Wylie said the study highlighted the importance of regular mammograms for all women, but particularly those with large breasts.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths. As it is a non-preventable disease, early detection is vital.

Women with large breasts may be more likely to suffer breast cancer because there is more tissue available for neoplastic change and/or because larger breasts cause increased oestrogen levels.

As women age, a larger proportion of them have larger breasts.

In the study published recently by the journal Elsevier*, data from almost 760,000 women aged from 40 to over 70 – of whom almost 55,000 had large breasts – was analysed.

Women whose breasts had been surgically enlarged or reduced and those with a previous diagnosis of breast or ovarian cancer were not included in the study.

Large breasts were defined as those that required bigger mammogram film cassettes. Standard cassettes measure 18 x 24cm while bigger ones are 24 x 30cm.

The study described as noteworthy considering a time when a lot of women globally are facing an obesity epidemic.

It should be noted as well that an increased body mass index is associated with a higher risk of developing post-menopausal breast cancer.

The study is entitled “Outcome of mammography in women with large breasts” and its three leading authors are UWA medical students.

Credit: Ghana Health Nest