Hormonal contraceptive might be putting women at higher risk of breast cancer: Study

A recent study has revealed that the use of progestogenonly hormonal contraceptives is associated with a 20 to 30 per cent higher risk of breast cancer warned a studyBreast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide with around 23 million women diagnosed with the disease every year according to the World Health Organization WHOUntil now studies have shown that use of the combined contraceptive pill which combines oestrogen and progestogen is associated with a small increase in the risk of developing breast cancer and that declines after stopping useFor the study researchers at Oxford Population Healths Cancer Epidemiology Unit analysed data from 9498 women who developed invasive breast cancer between ages 20 to 49 They closelymatched it with 18171 women without breast cancer who acted as controlsThe results published in the journal PLOS Medicine showed a significant increase in risk of breast cancer associated with hormonal contraceptive use regardless of whether the contraceptive last prescribed was a combined oestrogen and progestogen oral preparation 23 per cent a progestogenonly oral preparation 26 per cent an injected progestogen 25 per cent or a progestogenreleasing intrauterine device 32 per centFurther the increased risk of breast cancer associated with oral contraceptive use declined after stopping useThe increased risks were last prescribed within the last year 33 per cent last prescribed onefour years ago 17 per cent last prescribed five or more years ago 15 per centThe new findings suggest that current or recent use of all types of progestogenonly contraceptives is associated with a slight increase in breast cancer risk similar to that associated with use of combined oral contraceptivessaid Kirstin Pirie statistical programmer at Oxford Population HealthAGiven that a persons underlying risk of developing breast cancer increases with advancing age the absolute excess risk of breast cancer associated with either type of oral contraceptive will be smaller in women who use it at younger ages These excess risks must however be viewed in the context of the wellestablished benefits of contraceptive use in womens reproductive years Pirie saidWhen the findings for progestogenonly contraceptives were combined with previously published studies there was an increased risk of breast cancer in current and recent users of all four types of progestogenonly preparations oral 29 per cent injected 18 per cent implanted 28 per cent and intrauterine devices 21 per centThe researchers estimated that the absolute excess risk of developing breast cancer over a 15year period in women with five years use of oral contraceptives ranged from eight in 100000 women for use from age 16 to 20 to 265 in 100000 for use from age 35 to 39For anyone looking to lower their cancer risk not smoking eating a healthy balanced diet drinking less alcohol and keeping a healthy weight will have the most impact There are lots of possible benefits to using contraception as well as other risks not related to cancer Thats why deciding to take them is a personal choice and should be done after speaking to your doctor so you can make a decision that is right for you said Claire Knight Senior Health Information Manager at Cancer Research UKRead More Experts reveal that female genital tuberculosis needs timely interventionThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever