Night Shifts Not Responsible for Breast Cancer

A new study that looked suggests that working night shifts has “little or no effect” on a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.

15:33 07 October 2016

A new research conducted by leading UK cancer experts found that a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer is not linked with working night shifts.

 

In 2007, a World Health Organisation committee said that shift work “probably” had a link to breast cancer. Cancer Research UK (CRUK) hopes that the findings of the recent study would provide women a reassurance about the issue.

 

The research, which was funded by the UK Health and Safety Executive, UK Medical Research Council, and Cancer Research UK, has been published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. It looked at data of from 10 studies in the Netherlands, Sweden, China, USA and UK.

 

The study found that the incidence of breast cancer was essentially the same whether someone worked the night shift or not.

 

CRUK-funded scientist Dr Ruth Travis, who led the research and is based at the University of Oxford, said: "We found that women who had worked night shifts, including long-term night shifts, were not more likely to develop breast cancer, either in the three new UK studies or when we combined results from all 10 studies that had published relevant data."

Sarah Williams, CRUK's health information manager, said: "This study is the largest of its kind and has found no link between breast cancer and working night shifts.

 

"Research over the past years suggesting there was a link has made big headlines and we hope that today's news reassures women who work night shifts.

 

"Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and research to fully understand the different risk factors is vital so that we can give women clear health advice.

 

"Women can reduce their risk of breast cancer by keeping a healthy weight, drinking less alcohol and being active."