The role of oral contraception use in the occurrence of breast cancer. A retrospective study of 405 patients.

UNLABELLED: The investigation of potential predisposing factors of breast cancer, a disease accounting for almost one-third of malignancies in women, is necessary in order to reduce the incidence.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: We interviewed 405 female patients who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and who also reported having used oral contraceptive pills before. They were categorized into two groups (group A < 7 years OC use and group B > 7 years OC use).

RESULTS

Statistical analysis revealed a small (p < 0.02) but significant increased risk of the disease to BRCA mutation carriers, as well as to the women with a significant medical or family history of breast, ovarian or colon cancer who had also previously used oral contraceptive pills for more than seven years.

DISCUSSION: Breast cancer seems to be positively dependent on prolonged oral contraceptive use.

CONCLUSION

More research is needed to establish the hypothesis that the human genome is vulnerable to oral contraceptives.