RA linked to reduced breast cancer risk | Arthritis Information
Br J Cancer 2009; 100: 817–821
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may have a lower risk for breast cancer than other women, US researchers have found.
The study also indicates that women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be less likely to develop a specific type of breast cancer, “suggesting a possible role for systemic mediators of inflammation and immunity against breast cancer cells,” write J Goedert (University of Maryland, Baltimore) and co-workers.
The study used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Results–Medicare-linked database for 84,778 women, aged 67–99 years, who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1993 and 2002, and the same number of age-matched women without breast cancer.
Systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) were identified in the patients, including 5238 women with RA, 340 with SLE, 374 with Sjogren’s syndrome, 128 with systemic sclerosis, and 31 with dermatomyositis.
Analysis showed that RA patients were less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than other women (odds ratio [OR]=0.87), and this was true for both estrogen receptor-positive and -negative breast cancer (OR=0.878 and 0.91, respectively).
In addition, women with SLE were less likely to develop estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer than other individuals (OR=0.49), but no other difference in breast cancer risk was detected for women with SARDs.
Goedert et al hypothesize that the risk for breast cancer could be altered by circulating cytokines in patients with RA or SLE, or by the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are thought to protect against breast cancer.
“However, the generally null associations with SARD conditions, with the notable exception of RA, suggest that use of NSAIDs does not explain the observed associations,” they conclude in the British Journal of Cancer.
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Interesting - Already had breast cancer prior to RA. Actually, I think that I read somewhere that if you've had BC you are possibly going to get RA also.
I'd be very interested in reading that article. Do you remember where you saw it? Someone here on Enbrel posted she had had breast cancer.[QUOTE=Jan Lucinda]Someone here on Enbrel posted she had had breast cancer.[/QUOTE]
The article says it reduces the risk....
Lynn492009-03-10 12:59:17Good point, Snow. Maybe it is a combo of things we do with and to our RA once we are diagnosed? So, this is a good thing to come out of having RA, I guess?
Snow and Waddie, I agree that it's a combo affect of all of the above mentioned and then some. There was a recent article re: Star Study showing that alcohol drinkers had an increase in breast cancer or that non alcohol drinkers had a lower incidence. Maybe alcohol is the common denominator. LindyDidn't work for me! I had BC 15 years after getting RA. Bummer.My aunt has RA and is a breast cancer sufferer. 3 women at my physio have RA and are breast cancer sufferers.. My RD said a lot of what we read on the internet about numbers and studies is wrong and im inclined to believe him..For every study showing a positive, we will find another 3 showing a negative or visa versa. A woman in a book I read had breast cancer, she went into remission and then 10 years later it came back but had spread to her bones and her organs and was told it was terminal and she had about 6 months to live..as thats what studies show...??? 7 years later after running marathons, trialthlons, bike riding across america, bringing up 3 kids and working as a radiographer and sitting exams she was still alive. She eventually died a year and a halfago and lived to see her first grandchild.
I don't know...These are some pretty powerful numbers and as I said before, the article says it reduces the risk, not that there is no risk...
The study used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Results–Medicare-linked database for 84,778 women, aged 67–99 years, who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1993 and 2002, and the same number of age-matched women without breast cancer.
I really think it's a crap shoot. There are so many things that are factored in - diet, lifestyle, hereditary factors, environmental, etc. Are there really any answers? We all know someone who's beat the odds or know someone who died quickly. One never knows.LiAll one can do is follow a balanced diet, not smoke, keep weight within range, moderate to no alcohol and hope for the best. Lindy [QUOTE=LinB]I really think it's a crap shoot. There are so many things that are factored in - diet, lifestyle, hereditary factors, environmental, etc. Are there really any answers? We all know someone who's beat the odds or know someone who died quickly. One never knows.LiAll one can do is follow a balanced diet, not smoke, keep weight within range, moderate to no alcohol and hope for the best. Lindy [/QUOTE]
I agree
Edited because I had to answer the phone.. I don't think a little good news is a bad thing either and this is just that, a little good news
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