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Study Warns of Cancer Risk; Asymmetrical Breasts May Hold Vital Clues

Posted on: Monday, 20 March 2006, 06:00 CST

By SAM LISTER and DEBORAH JAMES Daily Post Staff

WOMEN with one breast larger than the other are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to a major new study.

Researchers at the University of Liverpool found patients who develop breast cancer tend to have less symmetrical breasts than those who do not develop the disease. And the bigger the difference in size, the higher the risk. For every 100ml difference, the chance of developing the disease increases by 50%.

Dr Diane Scutt, director of research at the university's School of Health Sciences, studied mammograms of more than 500 healthy women. She found those who went on to develop the disease had less symmetrical breasts than those who did not. Dr Scutt said: "It is essential that we look more closely at symmetry in mammograms as it may be an important indicator of a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. Symmetry has always been an important part of our biological make-up.

"For example, humans and non-humans who are highly symmetrical are preferred as mates over those who are less symmetrical. It is an indicator of health, fitness and performance. Perfect symmetry may be disturbed by a number of factors including the secretion of hormones such as oestrogen. I think this has to be seen in the same light as any potential risk factor.

"If women are in a high-risk category and they are found to have breast volume asymmetry, maybe this will alert people to monitor them more closely."

Dr Scutt said more work with a wider sample of women was needed before the research could be applied in a clinical environment.

Dr Scutt's research is published in Breast Cancer Research and can be viewed at http://breast-cancer-research.com

samlister@dailypost.co.uk

Source: Daily Post; Liverpool

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