Approximately 3 million women in the U.S. are living with breast cancer: 2 million who have been diagnosed and an estimated 1 million who do not yet know they have the disease.
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Oct 01, 2000
It comes as no surprise to the MBCC that a recent study reported in the July 13th volume of The New England Journal of Medicine shows a causal link between the environment and cancer, including breast cancer.
The study was conducted on 44,788 pairs of twins from Sweden, Denmark and Finland, compiling data from the comprehensive twin registries in those three countries and assessing risks of 28 types of cancer. Epidemiologist Paul Lichtenstein, Ph.D., led the research, joined by eight other scientists in the endeavor. The study looked at identical twins, who have inherited an identical genetic makeup, and fraternal twins, who, like any brother or sister, share about 50% of inherited genes. If a cancer were primarily caused by inherited genetic factors, it would be more likely that the identical pairs, not the fraternal pairs, would have both siblings develop the disease; i.e., two people with the same inherited genetic makeup would have a higher corresponding cancer rate than two people with only about 50% of the same inherited genes. However, if both types of twins have similar corresponding cancer rates, then it could be concluded that it is the environment, not inherited genetics, that is the predominant factor in causing cancer.
Lichtenstein’s group found that both types of twins had similar corresponding cancer rates overall, with the corresponding rate for breast cancer at 13% in identical twins and 9% in fraternal twins. If genetic factors were the predominant cause of breast cancer, then the corresponding rate in identical twins would be much higher than that of the fraternal twins. The scientists’ conclusion was that "the overwhelming contributor to the causation of cancer in the populations of twins that we studied was the environment." (New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 343, #2, p.84)
It is important to be aware that the study defined environment broadly, including both individual lifestyle choices and environmental factors like workplace or community exposure. The study’s authors could not list all environmental factors, since we do not know what they are.
The twin study also indicated that inherited genetic factors account for 27% of breast cancer cases, which is far more than the 5% to 10% caused by the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations. Clearly, research is needed to discover further genetic factors at play in this epidemic, but it is just as clear that research into possible environmental causes is desperately needed. Also, the possible interactions between genes and the environment cannot be overlooked.
As Dr. Julia Brody, Executive Director of the Silent Spring Institute, stated after reviewing Lichtenstein’s study, "I hope this will be a wake-up call for anybody who cares about cancer. To prevent cancer, we have to study the environment."
The Lichtenstein report shows that we do not yet have the information needed for real prevention of breast cancer. This landmark study confirms what the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition has stated for years: there is a great need for more comprehensive research into the possible environmental causes of breast cancer. Realizing this, in the early 1990’s the MBCC successfully advocated for state funding to study the elevated breast cancer rates on Cape Cod, and in 1994 founded the Silent Spring Institute to conduct research into possible links between breast cancer and the environment. The MBCC has continued each year to advocate for substantial state funding for environmental research, and, with the help of our supporters, were successful this year in gaining an additional $500,000 earmarked for environmental research in the proposed state budget.
Here in Massachusetts we are fortunate to have the Silent Spring Institute’s Cape Cod Breast Cancer and the Environment Study underway. We are hopeful as we look to the Institute to continue its search for accurate answers,.
NEW STUDY INDICATES ENVIRONMENTAL LINK TO BREAST CANCER
Stop the Epidemic: The Newsletter of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer CoalitionOct 01, 2000
It comes as no surprise to the MBCC that a recent study reported in the July 13th volume of The New England Journal of Medicine shows a causal link between the environment and cancer, including breast cancer.
The study was conducted on 44,788 pairs of twins from Sweden, Denmark and Finland, compiling data from the comprehensive twin registries in those three countries and assessing risks of 28 types of cancer. Epidemiologist Paul Lichtenstein, Ph.D., led the research, joined by eight other scientists in the endeavor. The study looked at identical twins, who have inherited an identical genetic makeup, and fraternal twins, who, like any brother or sister, share about 50% of inherited genes. If a cancer were primarily caused by inherited genetic factors, it would be more likely that the identical pairs, not the fraternal pairs, would have both siblings develop the disease; i.e., two people with the same inherited genetic makeup would have a higher corresponding cancer rate than two people with only about 50% of the same inherited genes. However, if both types of twins have similar corresponding cancer rates, then it could be concluded that it is the environment, not inherited genetics, that is the predominant factor in causing cancer.
Lichtenstein’s group found that both types of twins had similar corresponding cancer rates overall, with the corresponding rate for breast cancer at 13% in identical twins and 9% in fraternal twins. If genetic factors were the predominant cause of breast cancer, then the corresponding rate in identical twins would be much higher than that of the fraternal twins. The scientists’ conclusion was that "the overwhelming contributor to the causation of cancer in the populations of twins that we studied was the environment." (New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 343, #2, p.84)
It is important to be aware that the study defined environment broadly, including both individual lifestyle choices and environmental factors like workplace or community exposure. The study’s authors could not list all environmental factors, since we do not know what they are.
The twin study also indicated that inherited genetic factors account for 27% of breast cancer cases, which is far more than the 5% to 10% caused by the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations. Clearly, research is needed to discover further genetic factors at play in this epidemic, but it is just as clear that research into possible environmental causes is desperately needed. Also, the possible interactions between genes and the environment cannot be overlooked.
As Dr. Julia Brody, Executive Director of the Silent Spring Institute, stated after reviewing Lichtenstein’s study, "I hope this will be a wake-up call for anybody who cares about cancer. To prevent cancer, we have to study the environment."
The Lichtenstein report shows that we do not yet have the information needed for real prevention of breast cancer. This landmark study confirms what the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition has stated for years: there is a great need for more comprehensive research into the possible environmental causes of breast cancer. Realizing this, in the early 1990’s the MBCC successfully advocated for state funding to study the elevated breast cancer rates on Cape Cod, and in 1994 founded the Silent Spring Institute to conduct research into possible links between breast cancer and the environment. The MBCC has continued each year to advocate for substantial state funding for environmental research, and, with the help of our supporters, were successful this year in gaining an additional $500,000 earmarked for environmental research in the proposed state budget.
Here in Massachusetts we are fortunate to have the Silent Spring Institute’s Cape Cod Breast Cancer and the Environment Study underway. We are hopeful as we look to the Institute to continue its search for accurate answers,.
Published by Stop the Epidemic!
The Newsletter of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition
http://mbcc.org
To view our newsletter archives, please go to:
http://mbcc.org/acatalog.php?id=1
The Newsletter of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition
http://mbcc.org
To view our newsletter archives, please go to:
http://mbcc.org/acatalog.php?id=1
Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition
1419 Hancock Street, Suite 202, Quincy, MA 02169 • Ph.(617) 376-6222 • Fx.(617) 376-6221 • toll free: 1-800-649-6222
www.mbcc.org Email: info@mbcc.org
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MISSION STATEMENT: "Defining breast cancer as a political issue, the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition challenges all obstacles to the eradication of this disease."
MISSION STATEMENT: "Defining breast cancer as a political issue, the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition challenges all obstacles to the eradication of this disease."
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