A new study suggests that women who were big as babies run an increased risk of developing breast cancer before age 50.

Swedish researchers have been looking at a group of over 5,000 women born between 1915 and 1929. Sixty three of the group developed breast cancer before the age of 50. There was a strong link between birth size and rates of premenopausal breast cancer. Birth length and head circumference were more important than actual weight - with bigger babies running the higher risk. The link persisted, even when other risk factors were taken account of.

But there was no link between birth size and breast cancer for postmenopausal women. The researchers wonder if there is perhaps an underlying association between rapid fetal growth and early onset breast cancer.

Source

British Medical Journal 1st February 2003