Women with benign breast disease have a higher risk of breast cancer than the general population. However, the degree of elevation in risk greatly depends on the type of benign breast disease: those with atypical proliferative subtypes have the highest risk. Below we summarize the latest findings concerning the relationship between benign breast disease and breast cancer:
- Women with proliferative disease without atypia have a modestly increased risk of breast cancer compared to women with normal breasts or non-proliferative disease. Women with atypical hyperplasia (atypical ductal hyperplasia or atypical lobular hyperplasia) have a substantially increased risk of breast cancer.
- Older African-American women are at greater risk for progression to breast cancer from benign breast disease. African-American women with benign breast disease who were at least 50 years old were found to be 2.28 times more likely to develop breast cancer than non-African American women who were younger than 50 years old in one study.
- Benign breast disease tends to be more prevalent among breast cancer patients with early diagnoses (20 to 44 years) in those with a family history of breast cancer.
- Adolescent alcohol consumption is associated with higher risk of proliferative benign breast disease.
- Regular exercise might reduce the risk of benign breast disease.
Foods that reduce risk of benign breast disease
The following foods have been found to reduce the risk of benign breast disease:
- Canola oil
- Dietary fiber
- Fish oil supplements
- Flaxseed oil
- Herring
- Mackerel
- Salmon, wild
- Sardines
- Walnuts and other nuts
Foods that increase risk of benign breast disease
The following beverages have been found to increase the risk of benign breast disease:
Below we present links to some of the best studies concerning benign breast disease and breast cancer.