Diet and environmental carcinogenesis in breast/gynaecological cancers

Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2002 Feb;14(1):13-8. doi: 10.1097/00001703-200202000-00003.

Abstract

This paper reports on recent advances on the relation between diet, other environmental factors and breast and gynaecological cancers. Despite considerable research the issue remains still unsettled. The protective effect of a diet rich in vegetables and fruit, and thus selected (antioxidant) micronutrients, is not consistently reported in various studies. The possible relationship between fats and breast and female genital tract neoplasms also remains unconfirmed, while the potential benefits of physical activity remains unquantified. Alcohol appears to be related to the risk of breast cancer and overweight is associated with post-menopausal breast cancer and is strongly related to the risk of endometrial cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects
  • Breast Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Diet*
  • Dietary Fats / adverse effects
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / etiology
  • Environment*
  • Exercise
  • Female
  • Fruit
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / etiology
  • Risk
  • Vegetables

Substances

  • Dietary Fats