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Ingestion of caffeine has been implicated as a cause of fibrocystic breast disease. In turn, some investigators believe fibrocystic breast disease to be a risk factor for breast cancer. Using published statistics of breast cancer incidence, caffeine ingestion, and dietary patterns for women in 44 countries, Phelps and Phelps calculated the correlation between caffeine consumption (during 1964 to 1966) and breast cancer incidence (for 1973). The seven- to nine-year lag period allows for caffeine's possibly delayed carcinogenic effect.
An initial calculation found a highly significant correlation between caffeine consumption and breast cancer. However, fat ingestion was also highly correlated with breast cancer incidence. In recalculations tha…