title: Cancers in Australia in 2010 attributable to and prevented by the use of combined oral contraceptives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the proportion and number of cancers occurring in Australia in 2010 attributable to combined oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use.
  
  
  METHODS
  We estimated the population attributable fraction (PAF) for cancers causally associated with combined OCP use (breast, cervix), and the proportion of endometrial and ovarian cancers prevented (prevented fraction [PF]). We used standard formulae incorporating prevalence of combined OCP use in the Australian population, relative risks of cancer associated with this exposure and cancer incidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An estimated 105 breast and 52 cervical cancers (0.7% and 6.4% of each cancer, respectively) in Australia in 2010 were attributable to current use of combined OCP. Past combined OCP use was estimated to have prevented 1,032 endometrial and 308 ovarian cancers in 2010, reducing the number of cancers that would otherwise have occurred by 31% and 19%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A small proportion of breast and cervical cancers is attributable to combined OCP use; OCP use is likely to have prevented larger numbers of endometrial and ovarian cancers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women seeking contraceptive advice should be told of potential adverse effects, but should also be told that - along with reproductive health benefits - combined OCP use can reduce long-term risks of ovarian and endometrial cancers.
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.
authors.forename: Louise F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nagle
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.|Cancer Research UK, Manchester Institute and Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Adele C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bain
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Nirmala
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pandeya
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Whiteman
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Penelope M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012306:Risk; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined
keywords: cancer; infection; population attributable fraction; risk factor