Having children lowers risk of lung cancer

Women who have given birth once have 44% lower risk of lung cancer, regardless of their smoking habits, according to a study conducted by researchers from the National University of Singapore and National Cancer Centre Singapore.

The teams looked at records of more than 28,000 women who participated in the Singapore Breast Cancer Screening Project (SBCSP), of which at least 90% had at least one child or more. The study also found that other factors relating to childbirth, such as age at menopause, reproductive period, age at first delivery, breastfeeding, oral contraceptives and hormone therapy were also not associated with risk of lung cancer.

“Having at least one child is associated with a substantial reduction in lung cancer risk for both smoking and non-smoking women,” says the study’s co-author Dr Tan Min-Han, adjunct assistant professor at the NUS Saw Swee Hock of Public Health

Media Coverage:

  • Channel NewsAsia, 15 December 2015
  • TODAYOnline, 15 December 2015
  • Lianhe Wanbao, 15 December 2015
  • Lianhe Zaobao, 15 December 2015
  • The Straits Times, 16 December 2015
  • Berita Harian, 16 December 2015
  • Interview on 93.8LIVE, 15 December 2015
  • Interview on 95.8FM, 15 December 2015