Objective: To identify and quantify various demographic, reproductive, socio-economic and dietary risk factors among women with breast cancer.
Study design: Case control study.
Study period: February 2004 to May 2005.
Study setting: Departments of Surgery, Medicine and Radiotherapy of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Sciences and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry.
Materials and methods: Cases were women with pathologically confirmed breast cancer. Controls were age-matched women from medicine and surgery wards without any current breast problem or previous breast cancer. A total of 152 cases and 152 controls were enrolled. They were interviewed for parity, breast feeding, past history of benign breast lesion, family history and dietary history with a pre-tested interview schedule after obtaining informed written consent.
Results: The significant risk factors were (odds ratios with 95% CI) previous history of biopsy for benign breast lesion 10.4 (1.3-86.3), nulliparity 2.4 (1.14-5.08), consumption of fats more than 30 g/day 2.4 (1.14-5.45) and consumption of oils containing more of saturated fat 2.0 (1.03-4.52).
Conclusions: Nulliparity, past history of benign breast lesion, high fat diet and consumption of oils with more saturated fats were the risk factors.