Invasive breast carcinoma - IARC

Rapid growth and greater adult height,
reflecting in part, the total food intake in
early years, are associated with an
increased risk {674}. Similarly a high
body mass, also linked to a high total
caloric intake, or intake not counterbalanced
by caloric expenditure, is a risk
factor for postmenopausal breast cancer.
Total fat, as well as saturated animal fat,
also possibly increases the risk {674,
3153}.
Meat consumption is possibly associated
with an increased risk. Red meat was
more frequently cited as a risk factor and
diets rich in poultry possibly have no
links {3153}. In countries with different
meat consumption levels within the population,
higher risks were associated with
higher total meat, red meat or processed
meat intake in most studies, although this
was not always statistically significant. In
conclusion there is considerable consistent
evidence that higher meat consumption,
particularly red or fried/bro w n e d
meat is associated with a higher risk of
breast cancer {674}.
Recent studies, however, tend to suggest
that several associations, either
p reventive for vegetables and fruit, or
risk for fat may have been overstated
{ 8 0 4 , 8 1 5 , 8 1 7 } .
Other questions remaining unsolved
include the long term cumulative effects
of exposure to contaminants, either
formed during cooking, such as heterocyclic
amines in well-done meat or pesticide
residues.
Alcohol
The consumption of alcohol has been relatively
consistently found to be associated
with a mild increase in risk of breast
cancer {2729,3153}. A dose-re s p o n s e
Fig. 1.05 Breast cancer risk by increasing levels
of circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in
women