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Given breast cancer, does breast size matter? Data from a prospective breast cancer cohort

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Abstract

Purpose

Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and tumor characteristics affect disease-free survival. Larger breast size may increase breast cancer risk, but its influence on disease-free survival is unclear. The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether breast size independently influenced disease-free survival in breast cancer patients.

Methods

Body measurements were obtained preoperatively from 772 breast cancer patients in a population-based ongoing cohort from southern Sweden. The research nurse measured breast volumes with plastic cups used by plastic surgeons doing breast reductions. Clinical data were obtained from patient charts and pathology reports.

Results

Patients with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 had larger tumors (p < 0.001) and more axillary nodal involvement (p = 0.030). Patients with a WHR > 0.85 had larger tumors (p = 0.013), more advanced histological grade (p = 0.0016), and more axillary nodal involvement (p = 0.012). Patients with right + left breast volume ≥ 850 mL were more likely to have larger tumor sizes (p = 0.018), more advanced histological grade (p = 0.031), and more axillary nodal involvement (p = 0.025). There were 62 breast cancer events during the 7-year follow-up. Breast volume ≥ 850 mL was associated with shorter disease-free survival (p = 0.004) and distant metastasis-free survival (p = 0.001) in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors independent of other anthropometric measurements and age. In patients with ER-positive tumors, breast size was an independent predictor of shorter disease-free (HR 3.64; 95 % CI 1.42–9.35) and distant metastasis-free survival (HR 6.33; 95 %CI 1.36–29.43), adjusted for tumor characteristics, BMI, age, and treatment.

Conclusion

A simple and cheap anthropometric measurement with standardized tools may help identify a subgroup of patients in need of tailored breast cancer therapy.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Cancer Society, the Swedish Research Council, the Medical Faculty at Lund University, the Mrs. Berta Kamprad’s Foundation, the Gunnar Nilsson Foundation, the Crafoord Foundation, the Konung Gustaf V Jubileumsfond (104152), the South Swedish Health Care Region (Region Skåne ALF), Swedish Breast Cancer Group (BRO), and the Lund Hospital Fund. We thank our research nurses Linda Ågren, Anette Möller, Karin Henriksson, Anna Weddig, and Maj-Britt Hedenblad. We thank Dr Eric Dryver for proofreading the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Barngatan 2B, 221 85, Lund, Sweden

    Andrea Markkula, Anna Bromée, Maria Henningson, Maria Hietala & Helena Jernström

  2. Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45, Göteborg, Sweden

    Maria Henningson

  3. Vrinnevi Hospital, 601 82, Norrköping, Sweden

    Maria Hietala

  4. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Clinical Sciences, Skane University Hospital Malmö, Lund University, 205 02, Malmö, Sweden

    Anita Ringberg

  5. Department of Surgery, Clinical Sciences, Skane University Hospital Lund, Lund University, 221 85, Lund, Sweden

    Christian Ingvar

  6. Division of Cancer and Haematology, Skane University Hospital, 221 85, Lund, Sweden

    Carsten Rose

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  1. Andrea Markkula
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Correspondence to Helena Jernström.

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Markkula, A., Bromée, A., Henningson, M. et al. Given breast cancer, does breast size matter? Data from a prospective breast cancer cohort. Cancer Causes Control 23, 1307–1316 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0008-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0008-9

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