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[WreckWench]

Et Cetera: Study suggests link between left-handedness and breast cancer

09/28/2005


According to a study published online by the British Medical Journal, left-handed women are “more than twice as likely” as right-handed women to develop breast cancer before reaching menopause, Reuters reports. Researchers at the University Medical Center in Utrecht, Netherlands, hypothesize that exposure to hormones in the womb could explain the “shared origin” for developing breast cancer and being left-handed. The researchers studied 12,000 healthy women born between 1932 and 1941 who participated in a breast screening program; scientists determined the women’s “hand preference” and followed up on their medical history to see which women eventually developed breast cancer. Other risk factors such as family history, number of pregnancies, smoking habits, and social and economic status were also considered. The researchers discovered a 40% overall increase in risk of developing breast cancer among both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal left-handed women, with the greatest increase in risk occurring in the pre-menopausal group. Researchers note that although the “underlying mechanisms” of the association remain unclear, their findings could be “one new factor that leads us to a better understanding” of the cause of the disease. Reuters notes that between 8% and 9% of women are left-handed (Reaney, 9/25).

[BeachBunny]

Emmmm........I am not really sure BUT I can tell you that I have done a lot of pre chemo echoes, mostly for breast cancer. Because I am left handed I always notice when my patients are as well. I have had very few left handed patients over the years. Maybe there is more of a link in other regions. All of my patients come from the same clinic and I probably average around 15-20 pre chemo patients a week, with 99% being breast cancer. I will try to pay closer attention now!