Researchers at the International Prevention Research Institute in Lyon, France have completed an exhaustive review of 40 studies involving 56,000 patients across four different continents regarding a link between type 2 (adult onset) diabetes and breast cancer.
"Our study found a significantly increased risk of breast cancer in women who had diabetes," said Peter Boyle, lead author and president of the Institute, "which was restricted to those of post-menopausal age."
Notably there was no evidence linking type 1 diabetes with breast cancer, or any evidence linking pre-menopausal women with the increased risk.
Their research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, claims that having type 2 diabetes increases a post-menopausal woman's risk of developing breast cancer by 27 percent.
One of the potential factors noted by researchers was body mass index (BMI). Obesity, or high BMI, is a known risk factor for type 2 diabetes. It is also a known risk factor for several cancer types including breast cancer.
"Having a high BMI can contribute to an increased risk of both type II diabetes and breast cancer," said Martin Ledwick, Head Information Nurse at Cancer Research UK. Commenting on the study findings, he noted that the study does not demonstrate whether or not diabetes directly raises the risk of breast cancer in this patient population. Either way, he notes, It makes sense for women to try and maintain a healthy weight."
Source: Medical News Today
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