Breast cancer in Southern Brazil : association with past dietary intake.

OBJECTIVE: To determine possible associations between the risk of breast cancer in Brazilian women and demographic, social and economical variables, and past dietary intake. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted in Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil, between june and november 2003 involving a group of 33 women recently diagnosed with breast cancer and a control group of 33 healthy women volunteers. Personal details, health history and past dietary intake were obtained via questionnaires and interviews. Data between groups were compared using chi2, Fisher, and Student's t test, whilst associations were evaluated using a non-conditional logistic regression method and odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: Statistically significant differences between the two groups were revealed with respect to age distribution (P = 0.007), family income level (P = 0.02), educational level (P < 0.0001) and attainment of menopause (P < 0.0001). After adjustment, with regard to family income level, of the data concerning past dietary intake, the consumption of pig lard (OR = 6.32) and fatty red meat (OR = 3.48) were found to be associated with an increase in the risk of breast cancer. The regular ingestion of apples (OR = 0.30), watermelons (OR = 0.31), tomatoes (OR = 0.16), plain cakes (OR = 0.30) and desserts (OR = 0.20) afforded some degree of protection against the development of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Age (> 45 years), low family income (< $520/month), poor educational level (primary school level or lower) and past regular consumption of pork fat and fatty meat may be factors associated with an increased risk of breast cancer

Efeito do tratamento antineoplásico adjuvante na mudança de peso corporal em mulheres com câncer de mama.

Objetivos: Identificar o efeito do tratamento antineoplásico adjuvante sobre a mudança de peso corporal em mulheres com câncer de mama. Métodos: Um estudo clínico não randomizado incluiu mulheres com diagnóstico cirúrgico recente de câncer de mama, admitidas no hospital Maternidade Carmela Dutra em Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, entre outubro de 2006 e julho de 2008. Os dados de consumo alimentar, peso corporal, índice de massa corporal, circunferência do quadril, circunferência da cintura e outras variáveis, foram avaliados antes (basal) e depois do tratamento antineoplásico adjuvante (pós-tratamento). Um modelo de regressão linear de efeitos mistos foi utilizado para estimar as mudanças longitudinais que ocorreram no peso corporal. Resultados: A amostra foi composta por 53 pacientes. Foi observado um aumento significativo (P<0,05) no peso corporal (2,81 kg), índice de massa corporal (1,08 kg/m2), circunferência do quadril (3,62 cm) e circunferência da cintura (1,93 cm). Em relação aos aspectos dietéticos, houve um significativo aumento (P<0,05) na ingestão de energia (272,7 kcal), gorduras totais (11,2 g) e ácidos graxos poliinsaturados (5,4 g). O modelo final para a mudança no peso corporal demonstrou que as mulheres as quais foram expostas ao tratamento quimioterápico, e quimioterápico associado ao radioterápico, tiveram um maior aumento médio no peso corporal (2,47 kg e 5,21 kg, respectivamente). Os fatores socioeconômicos, demográficos e nutricionais não foram associados com o aumento no peso corporal. Conclusões: O aumento de peso esteve associado com o tratamento quimioterápico sozinho ou em combinação com o tratamento radioterápico.Aims: To identify the effect of adjuvant antineoplastic treatment on body weight change of women with breast cancer. METHODS: A non-randomized clinical study included women with a recent surgical diagnosis of breast cancer, admitted to the Maternidade Carmela Dutra hospital in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, between October 2006 and July 2008. Food intake, weight, body mass index, hip circumference, waist circumference and other variables were measured before (baseline) and after the adjuvant antineoplastic treatment (pos-treatment). A mixed effects linear regression model was used to estimate the longitudinal changes occurring in weight. Results: The sample comprised 53 patients. A significant increase (P<0.05) was observed in body weight (2.81 kg), body mass index (1.08 kg/m2), hip circumference (3.62 cm) and waist circumference (1.93 cm). In relation to diet, there was a significant increase (P<0.05) in the intake of energy (272.7 kcal), total fat (11.2 g) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (5.4 g). The final regression model for the change in body weight demonstrated that the women who were exposed to chemotherapy treatment, and to chemotherapy associated with radiotherapy, had the largest mean increase in body weight (2.47 kg and 5.21 kg, respectively). Socio-economic, demographic and nutritional factors were not associated with the increase in body weight. Conclusions: Weight gain was associated with chemotherapy treatment either alone or in combination with radiotherapy