Single, overweight, middle-aged women who drink alcohol have highest breast cancer risk, claim experts

Overweight or obese middle-aged women who consume alcohol are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, a new study has found. 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with around 60,000 cases diagnosed each year and approximately one in seven women expected to develop the disease during their lifetime. 

NHS guidance states that there are several factors that put women more at risk of the cancer including genetics, dense breast tissue, and higher hormone levels.

New research has suggested that the risk for middle-aged females is also exacerbated by lifestyle factors.

The study analysed 12,782 Australian women aged 45 to 50 over a period of approximately 25 years – during which time 941 women were diagnosed with the cancer.

Women who were overweight or obese – with a BMI of more than 25 – had a 23 per cent higher risk of developing the disease compared to those of a healthy weight. 

Alcohol consumption was also associated with increased risk, with women who consume up to 10 standard drinks per week, such as a 100ml glass of wine – showing a 49 per cent greater risk than non-drinkers.

High-risk drinkers – women who consume more than 10 standard servings per week – had a 36 per cent higher risk compared to non-drinkers.

In addition, women who were not partnered were found to be more at risk than those with partners.

The authors said: ‘Women who live with a partner may be more health conscious and seek better healthcare, maintain healthier lifestyle behaviours, and regularly uphold preventive care, with consequently decreased (breast cancer) incidence.’

They added: ‘This study demonstrated that being non-partnered, overweight/obese, and consuming alcohol were associated with increased hazards of (breast cancer) in women’s mid-life to older age.’ 

The NHS advises that lifestyle factors ‘such as smoking’ are linked to various breast cancers, with the National Breast Cancer Foundation also saying that ‘smoking, including vaping, is a confirmed risk factor’ for developing breast cancer.

It is always advised that smoking should be stopped in a bid to reduce cancer. 

Researchers in this study, however, found that there was no significant association between ‘between smoking and (breast cancer) incidence’.

The authors stated that their findings highlight the ‘importance of healthy weight management, cessation of alcohol consumption, and attention on psychosocial requirements of non-partnered women to prevent (breast cancer) incidence’.

They also acknowledged that their study had various limitations – including that the lifestyle factors were self-reported and that this could mean weight, alcohol consumption and smoking habits may not be fully accurate.

They also could not track how many cigarettes were smoked per day, how often the women exercised, and what diet they stuck to over the study period.

The results come amid extremely high breast cancer rates, with the disease accounting for around 15 per cent of new cancer cases in the UK, and roughly 160 new diagnoses every day.

For women, it makes up 30 per cent of cancer cases in Britain while in men it is less than 1 per cent.

There are around more than 11,000 deaths from breast cancer every year in the UK – equaling a devastating 31 per day.

For women, the main symptoms of the disease are having a lump or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit, or a change to the skin of  your breast like dimpling. There may also be pain in these areas.

Other signs to look out for as women are changes to the size of your breasts, or discharge from your nipples such as shape, rashes or discharge emerging from them.

The NHS say: ‘It’s important to check your breasts regularly so you know what’s normal for you. This makes it easier to notice any changes in the size, look or feel of your breasts.’

Symptoms in men are similar, but warning signs can also be the development of sores or ulcers on your chest.