Breast Cancer Risks More Common Among Nightshift Employees

A Canadian Review earlier confirmed that working night shifts for 30 straight years can trigger breast cancer risks among women. 

According to Professor Kristan Aronson of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, "breast cancer risks are not only found among professionals working on night shifts". A diverse mix of occupations as long as done during the night may trigger possible risks for such a condition.

The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer claims that an abrupt change in working hours and habits causes the production of carcinogen - one of the leading substances known for causing all types of cancer in the body.

The Research Institute studied the lifelong histories and occupations of their respondents and reported that 1/3 of women who are at risk worked on night shifts.

"One of the aims of the research under than to help treat cancer is to provide more conducive workplaces and environments for people working at night", Aronson said in an interview.

The team of researchers also considered other factors in their study which includes BMI, reproductive history, smoking and alcohol patterns and habits as well as poor sleeping habits.

Aronson stressed that in cases wherein working at night become unavoidable, employees can lower their risk for breast cancer by exercising when they have the time and eating healthier food options which includes whole grains, vegetables, fruits and lean meats.

In Denmark, around 37 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer were properly compensated for working on night shifts, a decision made by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

The Canadian Researchers are thinking about combining their findings with other teams that conducted the same research in Europe to further postulate the direct relationship between carcinogen and cancer with night shifts.