Interval breast cancers linked to risk for other tumours
Women with breast cancer identified between screening mammograms are more likely to be diagnosed with other cancers both before and after their breast cancer diagnosis, according to a Nature Communications study.
Researchers studied nearly 15,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer from two Swedish cohorts and the Women's Health Initiative. Some 12% of the cancers were interval cancers — that is, they were diagnosed after a negative screening mammography and before the next scheduled screen. The remainder were screen-detected cancers.
Women with interval breast cancers were significantly more likely than those with screen-detected cancers to have been diagnosed with a non-breast cancer tumour before the breast cancer diagnosis (odds ratio, 1.43). Women with interval cancers were also more likely to be diagnosed with a non-breast cancer tumour after their breast cancer diagnosis (OR, 1.28).
In addition, women with interval cancers were more likely to have a family history of non-breast cancer tumors.
The researchers conclude, "These findings could have implications for future screening and prevention programmes."
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