Benign Breast Disease Increases Cancer Risk
Reported July 21, 2005

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows benign breast disease is an important risk factor for future cases of breast cancer. A research led by researchers from Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Rochester, shows certain types of breast diseases may be indicators more than others.

Lynn Hartmann, M.D., Mayo Clinic oncologist and lead investigator of the study says, "Our findings indicate a link between select types of benign breast lesions and the later development of breast cancer." She adds, "Women who have a breast biopsy that is benign must discuss the possibility of additional risks with their doctors."

Every year, more than 1 million women in the United States have a benign breast biopsy. Any lumps or abnormalities a mammogram detects that have been biopsied and do not contain cancerous cells are considered benign breast disease.

Researchers found women with the most common, non-proliferative benign conditions had no increased risk of developing breast cancer -- as long as they did not have a strong family history of the disease. But the opposite was true for proliferative and atypical types of benign breast disease. The study shows even without a family history of the disease, these lesions indicated an increased risk of a future breast cancer.

Dr. Hartmann and her colleagues say more studies like this are needed to better understand how breast cancer develops and to help predict the risk of the disease.

SOURCE: The New England Journal of Medicine, 2005;353:229-37