Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer observed in women. Approximately one in eight women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. The etiology of breast cancer is thought to involve a complex interplay of genetic (hereditary and somatic), hormonal (endogenous and exogenous), and environmental factors that influence the physiologic status of the host. Epidemiologic studies indicate that early menarche, decreased parity, late age at first birth, obesity and excess weight gain, and late age at menopause can increase a women’s risk of developing breast cancer (1–3). These findings implicate the involvement of steroid hormones, especially estrogen, in the development of breast cancer.
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Tekmal, R.R., Santen, R.J. (1999). Local Estrogen Production. In: Manni, A. (eds) Endocrinology of Breast Cancer. Contemporary Endocrinology, vol 11. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-699-7_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-699-7_6
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