Oral Contraceptives and the Risk of Breast Cancer

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 347; no. 18; pp. 1448 - 1449
• Main Authors: Althuis, Michelle D, Brinton, Louise A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Massachusetts Medical Society 31-10-2002
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Breast Neoplasms - chemically induced; Breast Neoplasms - epidemiology; Contraceptives, Oral - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM200210313471813

To the Editor:
In the Women's Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences (Women's CARE) Study, Marchbanks et al. (June 27 issue)
1
carefully verified previous investigations showing that there is no association between combination oral contraceptives and the risk of breast cancer among women older than 45 years of age.
2
However, when data from women 35 to 44 years old are combined for analysis, the risk of breast cancer associated with recent use of oral contraceptives may not be fully apparent among the youngest women. The investigators report that they found a higher risk of breast cancer among the women 35 to 39 . . .