Psychosocial and Physical Effects of Adjuvant Chemotherapy: Survey of younger women with breast cancer.

Breast cancer patients younger than 55 completed a questionnaire on psychosocial factors and physical side effects shortly after diagnosis and 9 to 15 months after diagnosis. Those who had used adjuvant chemotherapy were more likely than those who had not to report physical side effects; there was little difference in psychosocial factors. Recent users were more likely than ex-users to report physical side effects, difficulties with domestic chores, and improvement in psychosocial factors.

Relationship between risk factors for breast cancer and hormonal status.

A total of 512 breast cancer patients and 540 controls were compared to examine the risk factors for different categories of breast cancer as defined by age, menopausal status and estrogen receptor (ER) tumor status. Significant differences were found by menopausal status, for age at first birth and age at menarche for all women, and for age at first birth and family history for women between 45 and 54 years old. No significant differences were found with ER status alone; however there was a significant difference between ER status and body weight in premenopausal women; the above significant differences with menopausal status were not found when stratified by ER tumour status. These findings support the hypothesis for aetiological differences for pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer and suggest that ER tumour status may influence the risk associated with body weight.

Breast self-examination: importance of technique in early diagnosis.

Shortly after diagnosis of breast cancer 416 patients were interviewed about their use of screening procedures and the method of tumour detection. Although 72% reported that they performed breast self-examination (BSE), only 12% actually inspected and palpated their breasts monthly. BSE was not significantly associated with tumour size or involvement of the lymph nodes; however, thorough inspection was associated with smaller tumours, and careful palpation with the absence of palpable nodes. Of those who no longer or never had examined their breasts 40% reported having annual breast examinations by their physician and had significantly smaller tumours than did the others. Most of the women (86%) reported having detected their own tumours, and BSE did not significantly increase the likelihood of self-detection. The frequency of use of screening procedures was similar in a sample of women without breast cancer.

Alcohol, smoking, social and occupational factors in the aetiology of cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx.

A case-control study of 374 patients with primary epithelial cancers of the oral cavity, oro- and hypopharynx, and larynx is reported, the controls being patients with selected other cancers, matched for age and sex. Of all eligible patients, 93% were interviewed. Increased risks were seen with alcohol consumption and, less strongly, with smoking, which for all sites could be adequately fitted by either a multiplicative or an additive model. However, the site-specific relationships were different, alcohol consumption being significantly associated only with oral cavity, pharyngeal and extrinsic laryngeal tumours, and smoking only with intrinsic laryngeal tumours. Increased risks were associated with low socio-economic status, the unmarried state, and poor dental care. No significant associations were seen with specific occupational exposures.

Allergies and agricultural exposure as risk factors for multiple myeloma.

In a case-control study of 84 multiple myeloma patients and 168 age- and sex-matched controls with tumours at other sites, reported prior allergies were associated with an elevated risk of myeloma (RR = 3.1, P less than 0.001). In addition, more myeloma patients than controls reported prior myxoedema (RR = 5.0, P = 0.04). History of agricultural work was associated with an elevated risk of myeloma (RR = 2.2, P = 0.01), although no detailed information was available on the type of farming in which the subjects were engaged. More detailed studies are required to confirm and further delineate these findings.