Breast cancer rates rise among ‘low-risk’ group

BREAST cancer cases have significantly increased among South Asian women – a group previously considered at lower risk – according to new research from Sheffield University.

By Jeni Harvey @jeniharvey

Published 15th Jun 2013, 01:01 BST

Experts from the university’s School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) examined breast cancer rates in the South Asian population in Leicester.

Previous studies have found that incidences of breast cancer are lower in the South Asian population compared with other groups.

Between 2000 and 2004, South Asian women had a 45 per cent lower rate of breast cancer compared with white women.

By the 2005-2009 period, however, rates of breast cancer among South Asian women had increased “significantly” and were eight per cent higher than white women, whose rates were unchanged.

Lead study author Matthew Day said the exact causes were “not clear cut” but could relate to increases in screening uptake, or lifestyle factors such as increased smoking and alcohol intake.

Leicester