Can physical trauma cause breast cancer?

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explore the effect of lifestyle on the risk of invasive breast carcinoma in women aged 50-65 years. A case-control study using a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. Cases (n = 67) and controls (n = 134) were closely matched on known risk factors for breast cancer including age, family history, age at menarche, parity, age at first birth and menopausal status. Controls were chosen from a pool of 5600 women who attended for breast screening and filled in a questionnaire giving details to allow matching with cases. The study took place at the North Lancashire Breast Screening Service. Women were aged 50-65 years and presented with breast cancer or attended for breast screening. Women with breast carcinoma were more likely to report physical trauma to the breast in the previous 5 years than were the controls (odds ratio (OR) 3.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-10.8, P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in a wide range of other lifestyle indicators including factors relevant to social class, education, residence, smoking and alcohol consumption. In conclusion, recall bias is an unlikely explanation for these results in view of the nature and severity of physical trauma. Models of epithelial cell generation indicate that a causal link between physical trauma and cancer is plausible. A latent interval between cancer onset and presentation of under 5 years is also plausible. The most likely explanation of the findings is that physical trauma can cause breast cancer.

Abuse victimization and risk of breast cancer in the Black Women’s Health Study

“…Most studies [56–61], but not all [19, 62], show higher annual health care utilization among women with a history of abuse in childhood or adulthood relative to nonabused women. Finally, researchers have speculated that physical trauma to the breast can cause cancer [63, 64]. A case–control study of women aged 50–65 years found that women with breast cancer were more likely than controls to report physical trauma to the breast in the previous 5 years (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.3–10.8) [64].…”

“…Finally, researchers have speculated that physical trauma to the breast can cause cancer [63, 64]. A case–control study of women aged 50–65 years found that women with breast cancer were more likely than controls to report physical trauma to the breast in the previous 5 years (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.3–10.8) [64]. According to models of epithelial cell generation, it is plausible that physical trauma could lead to cancer initiation [64, 65].…”

Electrical injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review of the literature

“…Unfortunately, it is not easy to answer this question, even using well-designed, populationbased samples 9 as retrospective evidence is difficult to acquire and may be unreliable because of recall bias in patients compared with controls. 10 It has been claimed that electricians have a higher risk of developing ALS compared with those in other occupations partly because of exposure to power frequency electromagnetic fields. [11][12][13] Before considering prospective studies of electrical injury as a possible trigger for neurodegenerative diseases including ALS, we decided to undertake a systematic review of all the existing literature, which extends back to 1906.…”

Gunshot (Pellets) injury of the Breast: A case report

“…This may constitute an indication for extraction of pellets in the breast tissue. This is further highlighted as models of epithelial cells generation indicate that a causal link exist between physical trauma and cancer [10]. This case presents a dilemma in decision and a subject of debate.…”