Asians' breast cancer risk different:Study

Major local study shows using Western model overestimates risk here

A large local study here spanning more than a decade has revealed some startling results: Asian women do not face the same risk of getting breast cancer as women in the West.

Those who have a close relative with this type of cancer are twice as likely to get it, compared with a Westerner. But Asians with no such family history have only half the risk.

So a Singapore woman with a mother, sister or daughter with breast cancer is four times more likely to get it too, compared with someone with no such family history. This appears to be the case across the three major races here.

Background story

Key findings

• A Singapore woman with a mother, sister or daughter with breast cancer is four times more likely to get it too, compared with someone with no such family history. This appears to be the case across the three major races here.
• The study also found that women who had their first period before the age of 12, have had a breast biopsy and had their first child after the age of 30 were at higher risk. Those who have never borne children are also generally at higher risk than those who have.

Previously, based on the Western yardstick, those with family history were thought to have double the risk.