Breast Cancer Survivors at Risk of Second Cancer

Breast cancer remains the most prevalent cancer in the UK, with approximately 56,000 diagnoses annually, predominantly among women. While five-year survival rates have improved, reaching 87% in England by 2017, survivors face heightened risks of developing secondary cancers. A recent study led by researchers at Cambridge University has clarified these risks, revealing that female and male breast cancer survivors are 24% and 27% more likely, respectively, to develop tumors elsewhere compared to the general population. The research, which analyzed data from over 580,000 female and 3,500 male breast cancer survivors diagnosed between 1995 and 2019, highlights significant risks for various second cancers. Notably, survivors face double the risk of cancer in the unaffected breast, an 87% increased risk of endometrial cancer, and a 58% greater risk of myeloid leukemia. The study also found that women diagnosed before age 50 are 86% more likely to develop a second cancer, while those diagnosed after 50 have a 17% increased risk. Socioeconomic factors play a crucial role, with women from deprived backgrounds facing a 35% higher risk of secondary cancers, potentially linked to higher rates of smoking, obesity, and alcohol consumption in these groups. Although the risk of second cancers in male survivors is lower, they are still 58% more likely to develop prostate cancer compared to the general male population. Experts, including Cancer Research UK's Katrina Brown, emphasize the need for further research to understand these disparities and improve health outcomes for breast cancer survivors.