Burgers may increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, new Harvard research warns..
Processed meat has long been linked to other cancers of the pancreas, prostate and bowels, but this study is the first to show a link with tumors that start in the breast.
Women who consumed the most processed meat were nine percent more likely to develop the disease, according to a meta-analysis of data from 28 previous studies.
This new research by Harvard offers another reason for women to keep cutting it out: it could impact their cancer risk.
Scientists pooled data from 28 previous studies and found those who ate more than this were more prone to breast cancer.
Processed meats have previously been linked to fueling bowel, prostate and pancreatic tumors.
Lead author Dr Maryam Farvid, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said: ‘Previous works linked increased risk of some types of cancer to higher processed meat intake.
‘This recent meta-analysis suggests that processed meat consumption may also increase breast cancer risk.
The study was published in the International Journal of Cancer.
