Migraine headaches lower breast cancer risk: Study

Interestingly, women with a longer history of migraine were 26 percent less likely to develop breast cancer compared to women not diagnosed with the classic one-sided, pulsating migraine headaches, the researchers found.

Explaining the rather atypical association, lead researcher Dr. Christopher I. Li of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle stated “It’s pretty clear that migraine, like breast cancer, is a hormonally related disease.”

Low estrogen levels are known to increase the severity and frequency of migraines in women. Conversely, breast cancer is directly linked to increased levels of the hormones in the body, Li explained.

The study:
Nearly 9,000 American women aged 34 to 64 years took part in the trial. While 4,568 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, 4,678 had no history of the cancerous disease.

Researchers also tracked the migraine history of each participant. In addition, menopausal stage, hormone use and lifestyle factors like alcohol consumption, smoking habits were also sought.

Comparative analysis revealed a 26 percent reduced risk of developing breast cancer among women who had a history of migraines as compared to non-migraine sufferers.

Furthermore, the typically prescribed NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen for easing migraine symptoms are also believed to lower the breast cancer risk. Use of NSAIDs is associated with a 12 percent lower risk of breast cancer, researchers revealed.

Implications of the study:
Despite the positive results of the study there are no clinical implications of the study. “There is no action a woman or her health-care professional would take as a result of this report” Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society noted.

Conversely it might just lower the breast cancer screening rates among those afflicted with migraine. Therefore, Li still recommends an annual breast cancer screening and follow-up. “The reduction in breast cancer risk in this study was about one-quarter, but it doesn’t eliminate the risk, so women still need to be on the lookout” Li averred.

The study features in the July issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.