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Cancer Causes & Control
Published in: Cancer Causes & Control 10/2015

01-10-2015 | Original paper

A case–control study of breast cancer risk in nurses from Northeastern Ontario, Canada

Authors: Stacey A. Santi, Margaret L. Meigs, Yantao Zhao, Mary A. Bewick, Robert M. Lafrenie, Michael S. Conlon

Published in: Cancer Causes & Control | Issue 10/2015

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Abstract

Purpose

Previously published findings have documented increased breast cancer risks associated with the nursing profession. The aim of the present study was to assess whether an increased risk of breast cancer was associated with nursing in a population-based case–control breast cancer study of women in Northeastern Ontario, Canada.

Methods

A total of 1519 women (1380 never-nurses: 716 controls and 664 cases; 139 ever-nurses: 59 controls and 80 cases) were included in the present study. Study participants filled out a detailed questionnaire which included a history of smoking, general health information, breast cancer risk factors, and a detailed occupational history.

Results

Ever-nurses were at higher, but nonsignificant risk of breast cancer compared to never-nurses (adjusted OR 1.39, 95 % CI 0.93–2.07). Ever-nurses who worked for longer than 10 years were at a significantly increased risk of breast cancer compared to never-nurses (adjusted OR 1.70, 95 % CI 1.04–2.79). A nonsignificant, but increased risk of breast cancer was observed in ever-nurses who worked full-time compared to never-nurses (OR 1.52, 95 % CI 0.92–2.52), while nurses who worked part-time, or both part-time and full-time were not at increased risk. Ever-nurses who worked in a hospital setting had a significantly increased risk of breast cancer (OR 1.65, 95 % CI 1.04–2.62) compared to never-nurses.

Conclusions

The results indicate that the nurses in the present study population are at increased risk of breast cancer. A prolonged duration of nursing years and prolonged intensity (being a full-time nurse) are factors associated with this increased risk.
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Metadata
Title
A case–control study of breast cancer risk in nurses from Northeastern Ontario, Canada
Authors
Stacey A. Santi
Margaret L. Meigs
Yantao Zhao
Mary A. Bewick
Robert M. Lafrenie
Michael S. Conlon
Publication date
01-10-2015
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Cancer Causes & Control / Issue 10/2015
Print ISSN: 0957-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7225
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-015-0633-1

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