Researchers from the University of Sheffield have found a wellness threat to British Asian women; an increased risk of breast cancer. Historically, women from this ethnic group have had a lower risk of the disease than white British women, but lifestyle factors such as obesity, or more coming forward for screening could explain the change.
The research, which was presented to the National Cancer Intelligence Network Conference in Brighton last week, looked at census and cancer data for 135,000 women from different ethnic backgrounds from 2000-2009. During the first five years, South Asian women were found to have a 45% cent lower rate of breast cancer compared with white women. However, from 2005 to 2009 white women’s rates of breast cancer had not significantly changed, but rates of breast cancer among South Asian women had increased considerably to be 8% higher than white women.
According to study leader Dr Matthew Day, of the University of Sheffield, ‘Historically South Asian women, and women in lower socio-economic groups, have been considered at lower risk of developing breast cancer. Based on our study in Leicester, this should no longer be considered the case.’ He continued, ‘The exact causes behind this change are not clear cut, they could relate to increases in screening uptake among these groups of women, which have in the past been shown to be lower than in other groups. Or they could be due to changes in lifestyle factors, like having fewer children and having them later in life, increased use of oral contraceptives, and increased smoking and alcohol intake – factors linked to increased breast cancer risk across the board.’
Dr Mick Peake, clinical lead at Public Health England’s National Cancer Intelligence Network, commented, ‘The results of the Leicester study should assist public health services to both plan for, and respond to, the changing risk profile of breast cancer in the population, particularly with regards to Asian women who for a long time have been another group whose attendance rate for screening has been low. At the individual level, if women are concerned about breast cancer, they should speak to their GP.’ Dr Hannah Bridges, of the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, added, ‘More research needs to be done to see if this trend is also true for South Asian women across the UK and to understand the reasons behind this potential change.’
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