Can physical trauma cause breast cancer?

[RobinP]

Well, this has always been a question of mine. You see my grandmother was in car accident and had horrible trauma to her left breast and shortly after developed breast cancer. I too had my lower breast smashed accidently and then about a year later developed a palpable lump which turn out to be canerous. So I always wonder if indeed trauma can be a contributing cause to some bc. I know a lot literature disputes a connection between trauma and cancer but not the following article below:

Can physical trauma cause breast cancer?

Rigby JE, Morris JA, Lavelle J, Stewart M, Gatrell AC.

Department of Geography, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, UK.

The objective of this study is to explore the effect of lifestyle on the risk of invasive breast carcinoma in women aged 50-65 years. A case-control study using a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. Cases (n = 67) and controls (n = 134) were closely matched on known risk factors for breast cancer including age, family history, age at menarche, parity, age at first birth and menopausal status. Controls were chosen from a pool of 5600 women who attended for breast screening and filled in a questionnaire giving details to allow matching with cases. The study took place at the North Lancashire Breast Screening Service. Women were aged 50-65 years and presented with breast cancer or attended for breast screening.Women with breast carcinoma were more likely to report physical trauma to the breast in the previous 5 years than were the controls (odds ratio (OR) 3.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-10.8, P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in a wide range of other lifestyle indicators including factors relevant to social class, education, residence, smoking and alcohol consumption. In conclusion, recall bias is an unlikely explanation for these results in view of the nature and severity of physical trauma. Models of epithelial cell generation indicate that a causal link between physical trauma and cancer is plausible. A latent interval between cancer onset and presentation of under 5 years is also plausible. The most likely explanation of the findings is that physical trauma can cause breast cancer.

PMID: 12131664 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[tousled1]

I think that one time or another most women have suffered some sort of trauma to one or both of their breasts. I guess it might be plausible that it could have a bearing on breast cancer but I seriously doubt it. The person who discovers exactly what causes breast cancer will be a millionaire.

[pattyz]

Well...... I have a heavy family history of bc and was 50 when dx'd... had two tumors in same breast PLUS Inflammatory.

BUT: The tumor that was obvious for over a year was in the identical position as the bruise and 'bump' I gave myself from a snapped branch, while doing some yardwork.

So? That has still made me wonder about this subject. Thanks Robin.

pattyz