Study finds link between injectable contraceptives and breast cancer risk in younger women
Recent use for a year or more doubled the risk of invasive breast cancer
2012-04-05
(Press-News.org) SEATTLE – The first large-scale U.S.-based study to evaluate the link between an injectable form of progestin-only birth control and breast cancer risk in young women has found that recent use of a year or more doubles the risk. The results of the study, led by breast cancer epidemiologist Christopher I. Li, M.D., Ph.D., of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, are published online ahead of the April 15 print issue of Cancer Research.
While the contraceptive, called depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate, or DMPA, contains the same kind of progestin as the menopausal hormone-therapy regimen found by a Women's Health Initiative clinical trial to increase breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women, few studies have evaluated the link between DMPA use and breast cancer risk in younger women.
"While DMPA is widely used by women throughout the world, there are limited data on the association between DMPA and breast cancer incidence," said Li, a member of the Hutchinson Center's Public Health Sciences Division. "Our study adds to the body of knowledge from international studies conducted in a diverse group of countries – Kenya, New Zealand, Thailand, Mexico and Costa Rica – which have shown that one of the risks associated with DMPA use may be an increased risk of breast cancer," he said.
Li and his Hutchinson Center colleagues found that recent DMPA use (within five years) for 12 months or longer was associated with a 2.2-fold increased risk of invasive breast cancer. This risk appeared to dissipate within months after contraceptive use was discontinued. The researchers also found that women who used the contraceptive for less than a year or who had stopped using it more than a year earlier did not have an increased risk of breast cancer.
"Although breast cancer is rare among young women and the elevated risk of breast cancer associated with DMPA appears to dissipate after discontinuation of use, our findings emphasize the importance of identifying the potential risks associated with specific forms of contraceptives given the number of available alternatives," the authors wrote.
The study involved 1,028 Seattle-area women ages 20 to 44 who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and, for comparison purposes, 919 age-matched controls who did not have a history of breast cancer. Of these, about 10 percent reported using DMPA, which is consistent with usage patterns nationwide, Li said. Use of the injectable contraceptive was about 5 percent higher among non-white women in the study.
"In the United States many women have numerous options for contraception, and so it is important to balance their risks and benefits when making contraceptive choices," Li said.
###The National Cancer Institute and the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program funded the research.
At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, our interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists and humanitarians work together to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Our researchers, including three Nobel laureates, bring a relentless pursuit and passion for health, knowledge and hope to their work and to the world. For more information, please visit www.fhcrc.org.
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Sexual objectification of female artists in music videos exists regardless of race, MU study finds
2012-04-05
COLUMBIA, Mo. ¬— Popular music videos have been criticized as having misogynistic messages and images. While more female music artists have gained visibility and created successful "brands" in recent years, critics argue that many of these artists are pushing the boundaries of acceptable norms with regard to race, gender and sexuality in popular culture. Cynthia Frisby, an associate professor of strategic communication in the University of Missouri School of Journalism, and Jennifer Aubrey, an associate professor in the department of communication in the University of Missouri ...
Bigelow Components' Tumbling Process Leads to Finished, Deburred Part
2012-04-05
Bigelow maintains the ability to expertly finish the cold heading process, enhancing the functionality, performance and appearance of precision metal parts, not unlike the way a great sports team finishes a game to achieve success and recognition. Their proven track record of meeting the needs of the marketplace is reflected in the expanding range of services and methods that enhance customer bottom lines. The Bigelow dedication to high quality performance yields cost savings, time efficiencies and logistical advantages that are right in step with the demands of the many ...
Income inequality and distrust foster academic dishonesty
2012-04-05
College professors and students are in an arms race over cheating. Students find new sources for pre-written term papers; professors find new ways to check the texts they get for plagiarized material. But why are all these young people cheating? A new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, suggests one reason: income inequality, which decreases the general trust people have toward each other.
Lukas Neville, a doctoral student at Queen's University in Ontario, was inspired to do the study by his own teaching experience. ...
Free apps drain smartphone energy on 'advertising modules'
2012-04-05
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Researchers have shown that popular free smartphone apps spend up to 75 percent of their energy tracking the user's geographical location, sending information about the user to advertisers and downloading ads.
"It turns out the free apps aren't really free because they contain the hidden cost of reduced battery life," said Y. Charlie Hu, a Purdue University professor of electrical and computer engineering.
Because smartphone batteries must be small and lightweight, power consumption is a major issue, the researcher said. He has led work to create ...
HollywoodSportsbook.eu Announces April "Nuthin' But Baseball" Month Long Promotion
2012-04-05
Hollywoodsportsbook (www.hollywoodsportsbook.eu, formerly www.hollywoodsportsbook.com) a leading online entertainment gaming site since 1997, today announced that April is "Nuthin' But Baseball" month. All month, Hollywood is giving away pairs of tickets to its qualifying clients to all levels of baseball games in their client's neighborhoods, whether it be MLB or even High School ball...
Robert Evans, Hollywood's Director of Operations says "April is here and that means only one thing.... Baseball is in full swing!... And we want our players and let Hollywood ...
Quantum computer built inside a diamond
2012-04-05
Diamonds are forever – or, at least, the effects of this diamond on quantum computing may be.
A team that includes scientists from USC has built a quantum computer in a diamond, the first of its kind to include protection against "decoherence" – noise that prevents the computer from functioning properly.
The demonstration shows the viability of solid-state quantum computers, which – unlike earlier gas- and liquid-state systems – may represent the future of quantum computing because they can be easily scaled up in size. Current quantum computers are typically very small ...
Internet use promotes democracy best in countries that are already partially free
2012-04-05
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Although use of the internet has been credited with helping spur democratic revolutions in the Arab world and elsewhere, a new multinational study suggests the internet is most likely to play a role only in specific situations.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that the internet spurs pro-democratic attitudes most in countries that already have introduced some reforms in that direction.
"Instead of the internet promoting fundamental political change, it seems to reinforce political change in countries that already have at least some level ...
Dependable Tampa Tree Service, M & M Tree Service, is Proud to Launch New Website
2012-04-05
M & M Tree Service has been one of Tampa Bay's preferred tree services since 1993. Owners Mike and Lynda Machado have served the Tampa Bay community for almost 20 years, providing dependable quality tree service and exceptional customer service to residential and commercial customers and are proud to unveil their new and improved website.
Designed with easier navigation, a showcase of beautiful photos reflecting some of their many tree and landscape projects throughout Tampa Bay and a robust question-and-answer page providing valuable advice to clients and consumers. ...
Drawing connections between food webs
2012-04-05
Ecosystems today face various threats, from climate change to invasive species to encroaching civilization. If we hope to protect these systems and the species that live in them, we must understand them — an extremely difficult and time-consuming task, given the world's seemingly endless number of ecosystems, each with its own complex dynamics and relationships.
But what if we could pinpoint the most powerful players in a given food web, those "keystone" species without which the entire ecosystem would collapse? And what if we could predict how changes to an ecosystem ...
Antibody therapy prevents gastrointestinal damage following radiation exposure in mice
2012-04-05
NEW YORK, APRIL 4, 2012 — A new study offers the first evidence of a drug capable of preventing lethal damage to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract caused by exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation, such as those occurring during a nuclear incident. There are currently no FDA-approved treatments or prophylactics available to manage the condition, known as radiation gastrointestinal syndrome (RGS), which is associated with weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, systemic infection, and – in extreme cases – septic shock and death.
The research was conducted in ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Warming rivers in Alaska threaten Chinook salmon populations and Indigenous food security
New multi-disciplinary approach sheds light on the role of mitochondrial DNA mutations in cancer
Worms reveal just how cramped cells really are
Alzheimer’s disease digital resources lacking for Latinos, Hispanics in Los Angeles years after COVID-19, study finds
Chronic disease deaths decline globally, but progress is slowing
The Lancet: Chronic disease deaths decline globally, but progress is slowing
The Lancet: Parent-focused programs insufficient to prevent obesity in toddlers, finds meta-analysis; authors call for a re-think of childhood obesity prevention approaches
Study sheds light on hurdles faced in transforming NHS healthcare with AI
Astrocytic “brake” that blocks spinal cord repair identified
As farm jobs decline, food industry work holds steady
Kennesaw State researcher aiming to move AI beyond the cloud
Revolutionizing impedance flow cytometry with adjustable microchannel height
Treating opioid addiction in jails improves treatment engagement, reduces overdose deaths and reincarceration
Can’t sleep? Insomnia associated with accelerated brain aging
Study links teacher turnover to higher rates of student suspensions, disciplinary referrals
How harmful bacteria hijack crops
Crowded conditions muddle frogs’ mating choices
A new way to guide light, undeterred
Researchers uncover how COVID-19 may linger in cancer patients and affect treatment outcomes
Tiny metal figurines from Sardinia's Nuragic civilization in around 1,000 BC reveal extensive ancient Mediterranean metal trading networks
Natural microfibers may degrade differently to synthetic materials under simulated sunlight exposure in freshwater and seawater conditions, with implications for how such pollutants affect aquatic lif
Indian new mums report better postpartum wellbeing when their own mum acts as their primary support - while women whose mother-in-law is the primary caregiver instead report significantly lower overal
Young adult intelligence and education are correlated with socioeconomic status in midlife
Traditional and “existential” wellness vary significantly between US regions
Smartwatches detect early signs of PTSD among those watching coverage of the Oct 7 attacks in Israel
The pandemic may have influenced the trainability of dogs, as reported by their owners
The withdrawal of U.S. funding for tuberculosis could lead to up to 2.2 million additional deaths between 2025 and 2030 inclusive
A ‘universal’ therapy against the seasonal flu? Antibody cocktail targets virus weak spot
Could robots help kids conquer reading anxiety? New study from the Department of Computer Science at UChicago suggests so
UCSB-designed soft robot intubation device could save lives
[Press-News.org] Study finds link between injectable contraceptives and breast cancer risk in younger womenRecent use for a year or more doubled the risk of invasive breast cancer