ScienceDaily (Apr. 8, 2007) — Eating red meat increases a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer, according to new research from the University of Leeds.

The findings are most striking for post-menopausal women – those with the highest intake of red meat, the equivalent to one portion a day (more than 57 grams) - run a 56 per cent greater risk of breast cancer than those who eat none.

Women who eat the most processed meat, such as bacon, sausages, ham or pies, run a 64 per cent greater risk of breast cancer than those who eat none.

Researchers at the University’s Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics have been tracking the eating habits and health of more than 35,000 women for the past seven years, and their latest findings are published in the British Journal of Cancer. Earlier findings, widely reported in January, showed that pre-menopausal women who have the greatest intake of fibre have cut their risk of breast cancer in half.

Related Stories

Higher Red Meat Intake May Increase Risk For Certain Breast Cancers (Nov. 14, 2006) — Eating more red meat may be associated with a higher risk for hormone receptor--positive breast cancers in premenopausal women, according to a report in the Nov. 13 issue of Archives of Internal ...  > read more

Eating More Red And Processed Meats Linked To Greater Risk For Bowel And Lung Cancer, Findings Suggest (Dec. 11, 2007) — New findings provide evidence that people who eat a lot of red and processed meats have greater risk of developing bowel and lung cancer than people who eat small quantities. The research by Amanda ...  > read more

Eating Red Meat Will Not Increase Colorectal Cancer Risk, Study Suggests (Jun. 13, 2007) — Recent studies published in the journal Cancer Science have disproved the common myth that consumption of red meat increases colorectal cancer risk. The study also found that consumption of fish and ...  > read more

Our Diet Must Change To Cut Cancer Risk, Experts Urge (Nov. 2, 2007) — A new report published by the World Cancer Research Fund will show how much our diet needs to change if we are to reduce the risk of cancer. The report shows that alcohol increases the risk of ...  > read more

Search ScienceDaily

Detecting Breast Cancer Early