BREAST-CANCER INCIDENCE IN THE RHONE AREA - INFLUENCE OF URBAN OR RURAL CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY AND POPULATION-DENSITY

The specific breast cancer register created in 1988 in the Rhone depar tment demonstrated a high incidence of breast cancer among the women w ho live in this departement (world standardised incidence rate = 79.4) . This report presents the results according to two geographical aspec ts : the urban or rural structure of the area of residence and the pop ulation density. These analysis demonstrated an association between th e high incidence of female breast cancer and the urban character of th e department. However the results of incidence in the urban and rural zone were heterogeneous. The high incidence of breast cancer in the No rth of the department corresponding to a vineyard region confirmed thi s association.