Urban Women at Greater Risk of Developing Breast Cancer

A study revealed that urban women have denser breasts than women in outlying areas and are thus more likely to develop breast cancer.

A study revealed that urban women have denser breasts than women in outlying areas and are thus more likely to develop breast cancer. The study was led by Dr. Nicholas M. Perry, M.B.B.S., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.R., director of The London Breast Institute at The Princess Grace Hospital in London, U.K.

He asserted that city dwelling women should go for regular breast screening. “Women living in cities need to pay more attention to having regular breast screening, he said.

He added: “Currently, women who live in urban areas are known to have lower attendance for breast screening programs than women in outlying areas.” In women, breast tissue can either be fatty or glandular or a mixture of both. Women with more glandular breasts show denser tissue on a mammogram and thus have nearly four times the risk of developing breast cancer than women with fatty breasts.

Dr. Perry and colleagues wanted to determine if there was a relationship between breast density and area of residence. The researchers analyzed digital mammograms of 972 women from urban, suburban and rural areas. They discovered that women who lived in London had significantly denser breasts than those living outside the city.

In the 45- to 54-year-old group, the risk of increased density was twice as great. Age-specific analyses suggested that overall differences by area were more pronounced in women under age 50.

Dr. Perry cautioned that more research is needed to determine the precise reason for this phenomenon, taking into account lifestyle factors, stress, workplace and other possible contributors. But he advised that all women maintain a recommended breast screening regimen, and that women with dense breasts be screened with digital mammography, which is more effective at detecting cancer in dense breast tissue.

“Regular breast screening with mammography saves lives,” Dr. Perry said. “Access to breast screening for women living in cities must be prioritized.”