- Genetics affects the likelihood of developing tumors, as do smoking, alcohol, and obesity.
Breast cancer survivors are significantly more likely to develop a new form of cancer than people who have never had the disease, according to research.
The effect was seen most strongly in women diagnosed before age 50, who are almost twice as likely to contract the disease elsewhere.
The study also found that the most common place where new tumors appeared in these patients was the uterus, followed by the blood and ovaries.
Experts say genetics are partly to blame. About one in ten breast cancer patients carry the inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, which increase the risk of developing breast cancer and other forms of the disease.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge also pointed to lifestyle factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and obesity as reasons why breast cancer patients were so likely to develop more tumours.
Male breast cancer patients (accounting for about one percent of cases) are also 58 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than the general male population.
Breast cancer survivors are significantly more likely to develop a new form of cancer than people who have never had the disease, according to research (Stock Photo)
The effect was seen most strongly in women diagnosed before age 50, who are almost twice as likely to contract the disease elsewhere (Stock photo)
Around 55,000 women and 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK. Advances in treatment over the last decade mean that almost nine in ten patients are still alive five years after being diagnosed.
The new study analyzed the medical records of more than 580,000 women and 3,500 men diagnosed with the disease between 1995 and 2019. Experts said the findings suggest that breast cancer survivors may need regular checkups to look for other tumors. Dr Simon Vincent, director of research, support and influence at the charity Breast Cancer Now, said more research is needed “to determine what follow-up would be appropriate for people who have completed treatment”.
Last month, The Mail on Sunday revealed the “extremely rare” case of Jess Parsons, 38, who was given the all-clear for a rare form of breast cancer and weeks later was told she had developed a new one. form in the other breast and needed additional treatment.