The influence of reproductive factors on the epidemiology of breast cancer is well accepted, but less well understood. Centuries ago, nuns and nulliparous women have been known to be at higher risk that the average women. Calculations from a recent Swedish study concluded that each birth reduced breast cancer risk by ten percent; a similar study in France (2002) found low parity definitely associated with increased breast cancer incidence. One explanation for this association may be differences in mammary tissue blood flow and vascularity.
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