A new study published in the July issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, confirmed the findings of a smaller study published last year that revealed that women diagnosed with migraines had a 26 percent lower risk of breast cancer than women who did not suffer from migraines.

The reduction in breast cancer risk applied pretty much across the board:

• ·        Whether or not the women were pre or post menopausal
• ·        Regardless of the medications they took
• ·        Regardless of the age at which they were diagnosed
• ·        Regardless of which migraine triggers they tried to avoid

Though it is known that both breast cancer and migraines have hormonal factors that are involved in their etiology, the researchers could not explain why having migraines would decrease the risk of getting breast cancer.

 

Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S.