Stressful life events and difficulties and onset of breast cancer: case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relation between stressful life events and difficulties and the onset of breast cancer.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
3 NHS breast clinics serving west Leeds.


METHODS
399 consecutive women, aged 40-79, attending the breast clinics who were Leeds residents.


METHODS
Odds ratios of the risk of developing breast cancer after experiencing one or more severe life events, severe difficulties, severe 2 year non-personal health difficulties, or severe 2 year personal health difficulties in the 5 years before clinical presentation.


RESULTS
332 (83%) women participated. Women diagnosed with breast cancer were no more likely to have experienced one or more severe life events (adjusted odds ratio 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.47 to 1. 81; P=0.79); one or more severe difficulties (0.86, 0.41 to 1.81; P=0.69); a 2 year severe non-personal health difficulty (0.53, 0.12 to 2.31; P=0.4); or a 2 year severe personal health difficulty (2.73, 0.68 to 10.93; P=0.16) than women diagnosed with a benign breast lump.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings do not support the hypothesis that severe life events or difficulties are associated with onset of breast cancer.
Protheroe
D
D
Department of Liaison Psychiatry, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds LS1 3EX. dprotheroe@tnh.vic.gov.au
Turvey
K
K
Horgan
K
K
Benson
E
E
Bowers
D
D
House
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*