Study renews breast ca link to migraines

In a follow-up study, Christopher I. Li, MD, PhD, and colleagues have reconfirmed their finding that migraine headaches are associated with a lower risk of breast cancer.

In the newest research, Dr. Li and his group at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found that the risk reduction remained statistically similar regardless of a woman’s menopausal status, her age at migraine diagnosis, use of prescription migraine medications, or whether she avoided known migraine triggers such as alcohol consumption, smoking, and taking hormone replacement.

These triggers are also well-established breast cancer risk factors. What remains unknown is why this link exists (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 18:2030-2034, 2009; 17:3116-3122, 2008).