Harvard Medical School researchers report that women who consume red meat, fish or eggs are no more likely to develop breast cancer than women who avoid eating animal protein.

The study looked at data from almost 90,000 women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study, who at several points over an 18-year period were surveyed about their eating habits.

Reporting in the International Journal of Cancer, the researchers not only found that no association between any kind of meat and cancer, but also found it made no difference whether women ate meat rare or well-done.

They also found no evidence that eggs increased the risk of breast cancer.

"We found no evidence that intake of meat or fish during mid-life and later was associated with risk of breast cancer," the researchers concluded.

Other sources: International Journal of Cancer