Mesley stirs debate over cancer
CBC documentary brings out sharp divisions over the causes

Shelley Page, CanWest News Service
Published: Sunday, March 19, 2006

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/weekend_extra/story.html?id=27e92357-77bc-48b3-8f2f-9f94cfc6a450&p=1

OTTAWA -- Breast cancer used to be known as "nuns' disease."

As far back as the 14th century, the disease affected nuns more than any other group of medieval women -- and studies since have continued to confirm high rates among nuns.

The breast-cancer rate in 19th-century nuns was 6.3 per cent -- about the same as it is today among Western women. In 1968, a U.S. National Cancer Institute study of 31,658 nuns from 41 religious orders found dramatically elevated levels of breast cancer in the women.

Why? Many researchers say it's because the nuns didn't give birth or breastfeed.

Today, the breast-cancer rate in nuns mirrors the rate in modern women, who frequently delay or forgo childbirth and infrequently choose to breastfeed their babies.

<snip>

There is a large group of researchers who believe that fertility issues explain much of the breast cancer problem in the West today: Our fertility has declined and we don't breastfeed.

We're essentially nuns, but instead of habits, we wear suits and hold office jobs, they say.

(see link for full article)

Mesley's "Marketplace" report is here:
http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/health/cancer/index.html

It will be repeated on CBC Television Sunday April 2 at 7:00 pm

(unfortunately, when I skimmed the transcript, I could find no mention of breastfeeding)

Janice Reynolds

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