Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physical activity in usual occupation and risk of breast cancer (United States)

  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We have used data from a large population-based case-control study inthe United States to evaluate the effect of occupational physical activity onbreast cancer risk. Women diagnosed with breast cancer identified from fourstate cancer registries, and controls randomly selected from lists oflicensed drivers or Medicare beneficiaries, were interviewed by telephone forinformation on usual occupation and other factors. We classified usualoccupation into one of four categories of physical activity. After excludingsubjects for whom a strength rating could not be assigned, we had a finalsample size of 4,863 cases and 6,783 controls. Using conditional logisticregression models, we calculated adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95 percentconfidence intervals (CI) for occupations having light, medium, and heavyactivity compared with sedentary ones. Women with heavy-activity occupationshad a lower risk of breast cancer than women with sedentary jobs (OR = 0.82,CI = 0.63-1.08), as di d women with jobs with medium activity (OR = 0.86, CI= 0.77-0.97) or light activity (OR = 0.92, CI = 0.84-1.01). There was asignificant decreasing trend in the ORs from sedentary to heavy work (P =0.007). Although limited by exposure misclassification, these data areconsistent with the hypothesis that physical activity reduces the risk ofbreast cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Frisch RE, Wyshak G, Albright NE, et al.Lower prevalence of breast cancer and cancers of the reproductive system among former college athletes compared to non-athletes. Br J Cancer {dy1985}; 52: 885–91.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bernstein L, Henderson BE, Hanisch R, Sullivan-Halley J, Ross RK. Physical exercise and reduced risk of breast cancer in young women. JNCI {dy1994}; 86: 1403–8.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Mittendorf R, Longnecker MP, Newcomb PA, et al.Strenuous physical activity in young adulthood and risk of breast cancer (United States). Cancer Causes Control {dy1995}; 6: 347–53.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Vena JE, Graham S, Zielezny M, Brasure J, Swanson MK Occupational exercise and risk of cancer. Am J Clin Nutr {dy1987}; 45: 318–27.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Zheng W, Shu XO, McLaughlin JK, Chow WH, Gao YT, Blot WJ. Occupational physical activity and the incidence of cancer of the breast, corpus uteri, and ovary in Shanghai. Cancer {dy1993}; 71: 3620–4.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bernstein L, Ross RK, Lobo RA, Hanisch R, Krailo MD, Henderson BE. The effects of moderate physical activity on menstrual cycle patterns in adolescence: implications for breast cancer prevention. Br J Cancer {dy1987}; 55: 681–5.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Frisch RE, Wyshak G, Vincent L. Delayed menarche and amenorrhea in ballet dancers. New Eng J Med {dy1980}; 303: 17–9.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Henderson BE, Ross RK, Judd HL, Krailo MD, Pike MC. Do regular ovulatory cycles increase breast cancer risk? Cancer {dy1988}; 56: 1206–8.

    Google Scholar 

  9. LaVecchia C, DeCarli A, DePietro S, Franceschi S, Negri E, Parazzini F. Menstrual cycle patterns and the risk of breast disease. Eur J Cancer Clin Onc {dy1985}; 21: 417–22.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Newcomb PA, Storer BE, Longnecker MP, et al.Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer. New Eng J Med {dy1994}; 330: 81–7.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Longnecker MP, Newcomb PA, Mittendorf R, et al.Risk of breast cancer in relation to lifetime alcohol consumption. JNCI {dy1995}; 87: 923–9.

    Google Scholar 

  12. United States Department of Labor. Selected Characteristics of Occupations Defined in the Revised Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Washington DC: US Government Printing Office, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Breslow NE, Day NE. Statistical Methods in Cancer Research. Vol. I. The Analysis of Case Control Studies. {plLyon France: International Agency for Research on Cancer}, 1980; IARC Sci. Pub. No. 32.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Leon AS, et al. Compendium of physical activities: Classification of energy costs of human physical activities. Med Sci Sports Exer {dy1993}; 35: 71–80.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Paffenbarger RS, Hyde RT, Wing AL. Physical activity and incidence of cancer in diverse populations: a preliminary report. Am J Clin Nutr {dy1987}; 45: 312–7.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Albanes D, Blair A, Taylor PR. Physical activity and risk of cancer in the NHANES I population. Am J Pub Health {dy1989}; 79: 744–50.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Dorgan JR, Brown C, Barrett M, et al.Physical activity and risk of breast cancer in the Framingham Heart Study. Am J Epidemiol {sn199}; 139: 662–9.

  18. Chen CH, White E, Malone K, Daling J. Leisure-time physical activity in relation to breast cancer among young women (Washington, United States). Cancer Causes Control {dy1997}; 8: 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  19. D'Avanzo B, Nanni O, LaVecchia C, et al.Physical activity and breast cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev {dy1996}; 5: 155–60.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Warren MP. The effects of exercise on pubertal progression and reproductive function in girls. J Clin Endocrinol Metab {dy1980}; 51: 1150–7.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bonen A, Belcastro AN, Ling WY, Simpson AA. Profiles of selected hormones during menstrual cycles of teenage athletes. J Appl Physiol: Respirat Environ Exercise Physiol {dy1981}; 50: 545–51.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Gammon MD, John EM. Recent etiologic hypotheses concerning breast cancer. Epidemiol Rev {dy1993}; 15: 163–8.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Cauley JA, Gutai JP, Kuller LH, LeDonne D, Powell J. The epidemiology of serum sex hormones in postmenopausal women. Am J Epidemiol {dy1989}; 129: 1120–31.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Bernstein L, Ross RK. Endogenous hormones and breast cancer risk. Epidemiol Rev {dy1993}; 15: 48–65.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Toniolo PG, Levitz M, Zelenivch-Jacquotte A, et al. A retrospective study of endogenous estrogens and breast cancer in postmenopausal women. JNCI {dy1995}; 87: 190–7.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Dorgan JF, Longcope C, Stephenson HE Jr, et al. Relation of prediagnostic serum estrogen and androgen levels to breast cancer risk. Cansr Epidemiol Biomark Prev {dy1996}; 5: 533–9.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Gram IT, Funkhouser E, Tabar L. Physical activity in relation to mammographic patterns [Abstract]. Am J Epidemiol {dy1996}; 143: S71.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Davis DL, Bradlow HL, Wolff M, Woodruff T, Hoel DG, Anton-Culver H. Medical hypothesis: xenoestrogens as preventable causes of breast cancer. Environ Health Persp {dy1993}; 101: 372–7.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Morabia A, Bernstein M, Heritier S, Khatchatrian N. Relation of breast cancer with passive and active exposure to tobacco smoke. Am J Epidemiol {dy1996}; 143: 918–28.

    Google Scholar 

  30. John EM, Kelsey JL. Radiation and other environmental exposures and breast cancer. Epidemiol Rev {dy1993}; 15: 157–62.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Birkett NJ. Effect of nondifferential misclassification on estimates of odds ratios with multiple levels of exposure. Am J Epidemiol {dy1992}; 136: 356–62.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, USA

    Patricia F. Coogan

  2. Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA

    Polly A. Newcomb & Amy Trentham-Dietz

  3. Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, USA

    Richard W. Clapp

  4. Department of Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, USA

    John A. Baron

  5. Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Research, Triangle Park, USA

    Matthew P. Longnecker

Authors
  1. Patricia F. Coogan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Polly A. Newcomb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Richard W. Clapp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Amy Trentham-Dietz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. John A. Baron
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Matthew P. Longnecker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Coogan, P.F., Newcomb, P.A., Clapp, R.W. et al. Physical activity in usual occupation and risk of breast cancer (United States). Cancer Causes Control 8, 626–631 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018402615206

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018402615206

Search

Navigation