BREAST-CANCER RISK-FACTORS IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN - THE HOWARD-UNIVERSITY TUMOR REGISTRY EXPERIENCE

This retrospective case-control study examines risk factors for breast cancer in African-American women, who recently have shown an increase in the incidence of this malignancy, especially in younger women. Our study involves 503 cases from the Howard University Hospital and 539 controls from the same hospital, seen from 1978 to 1987. Using informa tion culled from medical charts, an analysis of various factors for th eir effect on breast cancer risk was made. The source of data necessar ily meant that some known risk factors were missing. Increases in risk were found for known risk factors such as decreased age at menarche a nd a family history of breast cancer. No change in risk was observed w ith single marital status, nulliparity, premenopausal status, or lacta tion. An increased odds ratio was found for induced abortions, which w as significant in women diagnosed after 50 years of age. Spontaneous a bortions had a small but significant protective effect in the same sub group of women. Birth control pill usage conferred a significantly inc reased risk. It is of note that abortions and oral contraceptive usage , not yet studied in African Americans, have been suggested as possibl y contributing to the recent increase in breast cancer in young Africa n-American women.