Breast Cancer and OCs: Still Worried After All These Years?

Two studies confirm that oral contraceptives are not associated with breast cancer–specific or all-cause mortality.

Epidemiologic studies have yielded reassuring findings that oral contraceptives (OCs) do not raise risk for developing breast cancer (JW Womens Health Aug 20 2002). To evaluate risk for all-cause or breast cancer–related death in women with invasive breast cancer who used OCs, investigators assessed mortality of 4565 participants in the Women's Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences (CARE) Study (a population-based case-control study) and 3929 participants in the California Teachers Study (CTS; a cohort study).

No associations were observed between OC use and breast cancer–specific mortality in the CARE study (828 breast cancer deaths; median follow-up, 8.6 years) or the CTS (261 breast cancer deaths; median follow-up, 6.1 years). In add…

Reviewing Author

Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, MD, MS

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardPlanned Parenthood Federation of America

Grant/Research SupportSociety of Family Planning; California Department of Public Health Tobacco Control Program

Editorial BoardsContraception; Journal of General Internal Medicine

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCouncil Member, Society of General Internal Medicine