<p>The Association Between Smartphone Use and Breast Cancer Risk Among Taiwanese Women: A Case-Control Study</p>

Abstract

Introduction Breast cancer is a common malignancy worldwide. Smartphones have gradually become indispensable to our modern lives and have already changed lifestyles of human beings. To our best knowledge, no study has investigated the relationship between smartphone use and breast cancer. This case-control study purposely investigated the relationship between smartphone use and breast cancer risk. Materials and Methods This was a case-control study comprising 894 healthy controls and 211 patients with breast cancer. All participants were asked to respond to standard questionnaires to collect information on sleep quality, smartphone addiction, and smartphone use. Results Participants with smartphone addiction had a significantly higher 1.43-fold risk of breast cancer. Individuals with the habitual behavior of smartphone use >4.5 minutes before bedtime had a significantly increased 5.27-fold risk of breast cancer compared to those who used a smartphone for ≤4.5 minutes before bedtime. Additionally, a closer distance between the smartphone and the breasts when using the smartphone exhibited a significantly increased 1.59-fold risk. Participants who carried their smartphone near their chest or waist-abdomen area had significantly increased 5.03-fold and 4.06-fold risks of breast cancer, respectively, compared to those who carried the smartphone below the waist. Moreover, there was a synergistic effect of smartphone addiction and smartphone use of >4.5 minutes before bedtime which increased the breast cancer risk. Conclusion Excessive smartphone use significantly increased the risk of breast cancer, particularly for participants with smartphone addiction, a close distance between the breasts and smartphone, and the habit of smartphone use before bedtime.

Blue Light and Digital Screens Revisited: A New Look at Blue Light from the Vision Quality, Circadian Rhythm and Cognitive Functions Perspective

“…It is worth noting that exposure to light at night can disrupt the secretion of melatonin and cause circadian rhythm disruption, which can increase the risk of breast cancer. A case-control study on 894 healthy controls and 211 patients with breast cancer showed that excessive smartphone use significantly increased the risk of breast cancer, particularly for participants with smartphone addiction, a close distance between the breasts and smartphone, and the habit of smartphone use before bedtime [ 131 ]. Women who work or are exposed to high levels of light at night, such as factory workers and doctors, are also at increased risk of breast cancer.…”

<p>Regarding: “The Association Between Smartphone Use and Breast Cancer Risk Among Taiwanese Women: A Case-Control Study” [Letter]</p>

“…This letter is regarding our concerns regarding the paper entitled "The Association between Smartphone Use and Breast Cancer Risk among Taiwanese Women: A Case-Control Study" by Shih et al, published in Cancer Management and Research. 1 Although this paper addresses a very important topic, it has some shortcomings that at least to some extent, affect its conclusion. In their casecontrol study on 894 healthy controls and 211 patients with breast cancer, the authors had asked the participants to provide information on their sleep quality, smartphone addiction, and smartphone use.…”

Onco-Breastomics: An Eco-Evo-Devo Holistic Approach

“…Hiatt and Beyeler (2022) show that climate change will affect women's cancers through various mechanisms, including the effects of air pollution, ultraviolet radiation (UV), environmental toxins, or aberrant food supplies [88]. Shih et al (2020) sustained that even smartphone long-term use significantly increases the BC risk, due to a close distance between breasts and smartphone, and the habit of smartphone use before bedtime and night [89]. Also, night shift work, exposure to light at night, and circadian disruption may increase the BC risk [90].…”