Migraineurs have a lower incidence of breast cancer

January 20th, 2009

A silver lining for women who suffer from migraine has been discovered—researchers have determined that female migraineurs have a significantly lower chance of developing breast cancer than women who do not have migraines.

Overall, women with a history of migraine showed a 30% decrease in the incidence of the most common types of breast cancer. These tumors, called ductal and lobular carcinomas, have receptors for the hormones estrogen or progesterone.

Migraine fluctuates throughout a woman’s reproductive cycle, occurring more frequently when estrogen is low and decreasing when hormones are high, such as during pregnancy. Estrogen acts in a multitude of ways in the body, including regulating serotonin, a neurotransmitter that impacts inflammation, pain and the constriction of blood vessels. Higher levels of estrogen also increase the risk of breast cancer.

Because this was the first study done on the connection between migraine and breast cancer, researchers noted that more studies are needed to confirm the findings.

The complete article appeared in the December 2008 issue of the NHF News to Know the National Headache Foundation’s monthly E-Newsletter. To join the National Headache Foundation and receive NHF News to Know and the bi-monthly NHF Head Lines (available in hard copy) click here.

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One Response to “Migraineurs have a lower incidence of breast cancer”

1. Grand Mother Remedy » Blog Archive » National Headache Foundation » Blog Archive » Migraineurs have a … Says:

   January 20th, 2009 at 9:15 pm

   [...] Original post by unknown [...]

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