Is there a link between asbestos exposure and breast cancer?

There may be a connection between exposure to asbestos and the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
asbestos
breast cancer
A 2023 study looked at cases of asbestosis and malignancy in patients in China. It found that some people had both asbestosis and breast cancer. However, lung cancer with asbestosis was significantly more common.
2023 study
asbestosis
The study determined that factors such as exposure before the age of 17 years, longer exposure to asbestos, and cigarette smoking increased the risk of cancer in people with asbestosis.
According to a 2022 study, the number of breast cancer cases in females with asbestos exposure was similar to the number of cases in the reference cohort. The reference cohort refers to individuals with no exposure to asbestos. This could indicate that asbestos exposure does not significantly increase the risk of breast cancer.
2022 study
According to Breast Cancer UK, studies into the effects of asbestos on the risk of breast cancer are mixed. Health experts suggest that this may be because people have historically been less likely to work in fields that use asbestos.
Breast Cancer UK
In some cases, it can take at least 20 years for cancer to develop following asbestos exposure. If a person has had exposure to asbestos, it is best to contact a doctor for advice, even if they do not currently have any symptoms of breast cancer, other types of cancer, or asbestosis.
20 years
More research is necessary to assess further whether environmental or occupational exposure to asbestos increases a person’s risk of breast cancer.
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