Day 256 - 04 Jun 96 - Page 33


     
     1        cancer, and that is the reason I said that, but there is no
     2        good empirical data to my knowledge.
     3
     4   Q.   Then if we move away from cancer in general and look
     5        briefly at risk factors for breast cancer.  Early age at
     6        menarche, we agree, has been identified as a risk factor?
     7        A.  Yes.
     8
     9   Q.   And that is, at least in part, diet related.  We can agree
    10        about that?
    11        A.  Probably in large part,.
    12
    13   Q.   It may be.  It may also be determined to some extent
    14        genetically; may it not?
    15        A.  I doubt it.
    16
    17   Q.   Age at first pregnancy is another factor, is it not?  If
    18        I may put it positively, the earlier the better?
    19        A.  Yes.
    20
    21   Q.   That is not diet related; is it?
    22        A.  Probably not, although one cannot rule out some
    23        interaction.
    24
    25   Q.   Next, parity, number of children.  Again, putting it in the
    26        positive way, the more the better?
    27        A.  Up to a point.
    28
    29   Q.   Again, that is not diet related either except in the most
    30        indirect way that the balance of food may allow you no more
    31        children?
    32        A.  Right.
    33
    34   Q.   But it is not otherwise; is it?
    35        A.  Right.
    36
    37   Q.   What about age at menopause?  Again, putting it positively,
    38        the earlier the better from a risk point of view; is that
    39        right?
    40        A.  Yes.
    41
    42   Q.   Is that diet related?
    43        A.  Yes.
    44
    45   Q.   In what sense?
    46        A.  High fat low fibre diets tend to lengthen the total
    47        reproductive period and by lengthening I mean causing an
    48        earlier age of onset of menarche in addition to delaying
    49        menopause, so it is very definitely related to diet.
    50 
    51   Q.   It may also have a genetic derivation; may it not? 
    52        A.  I doubt it. 
    53
    54   Q.   What about breast feeding, nursing?
    55        A.  Yes?
    56
    57   Q.   Is that a factor?
    58        A.  Yes.
    59
    60   Q.   And again, it is better from the risk point of view to

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