According to latest research women with a common thyroid problem may have a lower risk of developing breast cancer .
Studies in the past have shown that one of the circulating thyroid hormones actually sustains breast cancer cells. Although animal studies found mammary gland cells responded to thyroid hormones , population studies have shown conflicting patterns in the relationship between thyroid hormone and breast cancer.In a recent study researchers examined the association between the thyroid hormone and breast cancer. For the study researchers compared the medical records from 1,136 women with breast cancer and 1,088 healthy women to look at characteristics in women with hypothyroidism and those not affected by the condition.
Study results revealed women with primary hypothyroidism had a 61-percent lower risk of developing invasive breast cancer and women with breast cancer were 57-percent less likely to have hypothyroidism compared to healthy women. The study also showed women with hypothyroidism were diagnosed with earlier stage breast cancer and had smaller tumors.
In conclusion researchers say the observed association between hypothyroidism and breast cancer may be due to the biologic effect of the thyroid hormone at the cellular level hence they recommend further studies for preventive and therapeutic purposes.
