Long-term night shifts can 'double' breast cancer risk

Conclusion This study appears to support previous research suggesting a link between long term night shift work (in this study, of 30 years or more duration) and higher breast cancer risk. It looked in detail at patterns of night shift work across a number of occupations. One limitation is that it relied on participants recalling their occupations and patterns of shift work, sometimes over lengthy periods, which might have led to inaccuracies. A study which followed women forward in real time rather than looking at outcomes retrospectively (an inception cohort study), would be more reliable. It is also possible that lifestyle factors related to night shift work may contribute to a higher breast cancer risk, although researchers tried to take account of these in their analysis. If the researchers’ hypothesis proves correct and night shift working does increase breast cancer risk, then it should be possible to compensate for this increase by taking a number of preventative steps. These include quit smoking if you smoke, maintain a healthy weight, eat a healthy balanced diet, moderate your consumption of alcohol and take regular exercise. Analysis by Bazian. Edited by NHS Choices. Follow Behind the Headlines on Twitter. Links To The Headlines Working at nights raises breast cancer risk, warns new research. The Independent, July 1 2013 Nurses, care workers and others on night shifts could face ‘double risk of breast cancer’. The Daily Telegraph, July 2 2013 Breast cancer...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cancer Lifestyle/exercise Source Type: news