Daughters born of Old Mothers at more risk of Breast Cancer

Women are more likely to develop breast cancer, if they are born to mothers over the age of 30 years. Women born to mothers aged from 3 years to 36 years will have increased risk of breast cancer, progressively from 8 percent to 21 percent, compared with those born to mothers aged 30 years or younger. Women born to mothers aged 31-35 years are 17% more likely to develop breast cancer than women born to mothers aged 30 years or younger.

The father’s age, however, did not affect the daughter’s subsequent risk for breast cancer, leading the researchers to speculate that the effect may be caused by exposure to higher levels of estrogen in the womb.

Higher incidence of breast cancer is more consistent in firstborn daughters who also have estrogen- and progesterone-positive tumors. Intrauterine exposures, especially those related to maternal endogenous sex hormones, may play a role in the etiology of breast cancer.

October is breast cancer awareness month. This is a time when women come together to support and comfort each other through the disease that affects millions of women worldwide.
So this month, all the people must unite for their grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins and friends who are fighting the deadly disease.