Bowel function and breast cancer in US women.
We studied bowel function in relation to 123 breast cancer cases among 7,702 women from the US NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study. Results suggest a slight increased risk of breast cancer for both decreased frequency of bowel movements (relative risk = 1.5, 95% confidence interval = 0.8, 2.7) and firm stool consistency (RR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.0, 3.2.) These observations are consistent with an hypothesized association between constipation and increased risk of breast cancer.
Micozzi
M S
MS
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC 20306-6000.
Carter
C L
CL
Albanes
D
D
Taylor
P R
PR
Licitra
L M
LM
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States