Day 256 - 04 Jun 96 - Page 28


     
     1        "The relative risks adjusted for the following variables,
     2        including age at menarche, body mass index, history of
     3        benign breast disease" -- I am not sure about that one and
     4        maternal history of breast cancer, et cetera, fibre intake
     5        and energy intake.  Apart from the ones that may be
     6        genetically related, those other ones that I have
     7        mentioned, are they dietary related?
     8        A.  Yes, they can be, each one you have mentioned.
     9
    10   Q.   Yes.
    11        A.  Either by the person in question has been examined or
    12        by the family member of that person, such as history of
    13        breast cancer.
    14
    15   Q.   So what effect would removing the dietary related variables
    16        have on the value of this exercise?
    17        A.  It would tend to minimise the effect that is otherwise
    18        there.  We would not see it.
    19
    20   Q.   What effect would it have of removing the people that may
    21        be genetically susceptible to breast cancer on the
    22        significance of these results?
    23        A.  Well, there is some.
    24
    25   Q.   Or adjusting for those variables?
    26        A.  There is some indication that those who are genetically
    27        susceptible may have been removed from this, but that is
    28        not altogether true because the cases that actually were
    29        entered into this equation, this analysis, obviously were
    30        people who did get the disease and could be genetically
    31        susceptible.
    32
    33   Q.   Right.  Maybe I put the question wrong.  If people are
    34        genetically susceptible, is it more important or less
    35        important on their dietary habits?
    36        A.  Those who are genetically susceptible, the dietary
    37        habits are particularly important.
    38
    39   Q.   The last thing I think I was going to ask you was about the
    40        other reference, I do not know if it is there behind that
    41        one, the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, M J Hill.
    42        Do you have that?
    43        A.  Yes I do, I have that.
    44
    45   Q.   You have not really had a chance to read this, have you?
    46        A.  No, I have not, not the whole thing, no.
    47
    48   Q.   If you just look at the overall conclusions which is on
    49        pages 37 and 38, is there any comment you would like to
    50        make?  Just read them to yourself and, as you are going 
    51        through it, is there any comment you would like to make on 
    52        those (Pause). 
    53        A.  It is an interesting set of questions.  However ----
    54
    55   Q.   Are these the questions on page 37, those five questions?
    56        A.  Yes, right.  These questions are the kind of questions
    57        that I have been myself involved in too on the other panels
    58        that I have served on, and there is always some debate as
    59        to whether or not these questions are legitimate questions
    60        to raise or not, or at least some of them, particularly No.

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