White women more prone to breast cancer because of lifestyle

In England, black and South Asian women have lower rates of breast cancer than white women. Now, a new study from Oxford University suggests the reason lies with differences in lifestyle and reproductive patterns.

The team, from Oxford's Cancer Epidemiology Unit, lists alcohol consumption, breastfeeding and number of children as some of the factors.

The data for the study, which is published in the British Journal of Cancer came from the Million Women Study, which is run by Oxford University and whose participants comprise women aged 50 and over living in the UK.

The data shows in England, South Asian women have an 18% lower rate of breast cancer, and black women have a 15% lower rate, than white women.

But the researchers found these differences in risk disappeared when they took into account the effect of lifestyle and reproductive factors.

Lead author Dr. Toral Gathani, a clinical epidemiologist and consultant surgeon, says:

"In this study of largely postmenopausal women in England, we see that the lower risk of breast cancer in South Asian and black women is largely explained by differences in lifestyle and reproductive patterns."

White women drink more, have fewer children, and are less likely to breastfeed

White women are less likely to breastfeed, have fewer children, and are more likely to drink alcohol than South Asian and black counterparts. They are also more likely to have a first-degree relative - such as a sister - with breast cancer, a factor known to raise the risk of the disease.