Study: Divorce or Death of Husband Linked to Higher Breast Cancer Risk

Stressful life events such as divorce, separation, or death of a husband or close friend appear to increase the risk of breast cancer, according to a report by Finnish researchers.

The researchers examined the relation between stressful life events and risk of breast cancer among 10,808 women who completed self-administered questionnaires in 1991. During 15 years of followup, 180 cases of breast cancer were identified.

The researchers reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology that divorce of separation appeared to more than double breast cancer risk, with death of a husband also linked to a doubling of the likelihood of breast cancer.

"Our data suggest that life events increase breast cancer risk independently of body mass index, weight change, alcohol use, smoking, and physical activity and that their effect is not mediated or modified by self-perceptions of daily stress, adverse personality, or suboptimal mood," the researchers concluded.

Other sources: American Journal of Epidemiology