The Working Group concluded there was limited evidence that night shift work causes breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Nevertheless, scientists found that women who work night shifts for many years are more likely to get breast cancer than other women. Travis RC, Balkwill A, Fensom GK, et al. Night shifts significantly increase the risk of cancer in women, according to a study appeared in the periodical “American Association for Cancer Research.” Source: NDTV The study explained that the breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women around the world. Compared with mice exposed to the normal light/dark schedule, those exposed to the jet lag schedule experienced faster and more aggressive tumor growth, the team found. Comparative performance of prediction model, non-expert and tele-diagnosis of common external and middle ear … 369-379. Nutrition and mental health: Is there a link? This reassuring headline follows analysis of information about more than 100,000 women in the UK over a 10-year period. Breast cancer patients get landmark payout. "Night shifts do not increase breast cancer risk, study concludes," reports The Guardian. What recognition of the occupational nature of prostate and colorectal cancer resulting from night work in Denmark? The team used these data to assess how long-term night shift work was associated with the risk of developing 11 cancer types. “People doing night shift work are currently increasing around the world, especially in industrialized countries. J Natl Cancer Inst 2001; 93(20): 1557–62. “It is possible that women in these locations have higher sex hormone levels,” Ma suggests, “which have been positively associated with hormone-related cancers such as breast cancer.”. W orking the night shift is linked to a number of health issues, from heart disease to obesity to sleep disorders—and even cancer. Ma adds that he hopes that this research will encourage larger cohort studies, in order to confirm the link between long-term night shift work and cancer among women. Other potential warning signs…, Enzymes help speed up chemical reactions in the body. This, too, led to more rapid tumor growth. On looking at specific cancers, the researchers found that women who worked long-term night shifts were at even greater risk of skin cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer. Breast cancer being the most diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, most previous meta-analyses have focused on understanding the association between female night shift workers and breast cancer risk, but the conclusions have […] The report comes from a team of 44 scientists in 10 … It found no convincing evidence that night shift work increases the risk of any type of breast cancer. A growing number of studies have examined associations between night shift work and the risks of common cancers among women, with varying conclusions. On further investigation, the researchers found that the Bmal1 and Per2 genes regulate when the production of a protein c-myc occurs. Kurt Straif and others. “Another possible explanation for the increased cancer risk in this population may relate to the job requirements of night shift nursing, such as more intensive shifts,” adds Ma. The study’s findings showed female nurses who worked the night shift had an increased rate of breast cancer by 58%, gastrointestinal cancer by 35% and lung cancer by 28% compared to those who did not work night shift. “Our study indicates that night shift work serves as a risk factor for common cancers in women. Breast cancer risk was … Chronotype is an individual characteristic that may relate to … Overall, there is a tendency of increased risk of breast cancer either after over 20 years of night shift or after shorter periods with many consecutive shifts. It will be meaningful to examine whether there is an association between night shift work before and during pregnancy and cancer risk in offspring. Daily Mail, October 7 2016. Web of Science; Google Scholar; Related articles in PubMed. Papagiannakopoulos and colleagues describe two genes within cells that play a role in circadian clock regulation: Bmal1 and Per2. Situated in the hypothalamus, the SCN receives information about light and dark levels from the retina of the eyes, and this information is sent to the body’s cells. Feinkelstein said first, even on the days you aren't on the job, don't change your sleep hours. Experimental research just published in Nature Communications gives the molecular basis for asserting that it may well be. Is night-shift work a risk factor for breast cancer? In a study of Danish nurses, effects of night shift work on breast cancer risk were greatest for women who worked rotating hours that included the overnight (as opposed to the evening) shift, and for those who worked 12-hour shifts that alternated day and night work, as compared to shorter work periods. Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) reveal that disruption to the circadian rhythm also leads to the impairment of two tumor suppressor genes, which can spur tumor growth. Upon activation, Per2 switches on a number of biological processes regulated by circadian rhythm, including cell division and metabolism, which the team points out are two hallmarks of cancer. Now, researchers have shed light on the mechanisms behind this association. The body’s central circadian rhythm, or “master clock,” is made up of around 20,000 nerve cells in the brain, which are collectively referred to as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Shorter stints on a night shift do not appear to be as dangerous as long-term nighttime work. We enrolled 61 articles involving 114,628 cases and 3,909,152 participants from Europe, North America, Asia, and … Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional, ‘Jet lag’ schedule fueled tumor growth in mice, Bmal1, Per2 disruption leads to build-up of cancer-promoting protein, when the production of a protein c-myc occurs, Read how night shift work may affect women more than men, Aphantasia: The inability to visualize images, The Recovery Room: News beyond the pandemic — January 8, COVID-19: Research points to long-term neurological effects. Night shift 'may be cancer risk' December 1, 2007 — 9.39pm. MIT biologists have found a genetic link that may explain why people who work night shifts have a heightened risk of developing cancer. During follow-up through 2007, 717 incident cases of breast cancer were diagnosed. Recently, the main characteristics, dissimilarities, and findings of these studies were critically reviewed (11, 31, 41). Interestingly, nurses who worked night shifts also had a higher incidence of lung cancer. Background: Limited epidemiological evidence has suggested a positive relationship between night shift work and the risk of cancer. December 24, 2020 Nurses who work rotating night shifts may be at a higher risk for breast cancer, according to a systematic review. Working night shifts does not raise the risk of breast cancer: Women who do shifts are ‘no more likely to get the disease than anyone else’. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 15 million people in the United States have irregular working patterns, including night shifts. Researchers found that women who engaged in long-term night shifts were almost a fifth more likely to develop cancer when compared with women who did not work such shifts. The case group included 494 women diagnosed with malignant breast cancer; the control group included 515 healthy women. All rights reserved. This can fuel cancer development. Skin cancer - protecting outdoor workers. Nurses who work rotating night shifts may be at a higher risk for breast cancer, according to a systematic review. This population was also discovered to have an increased risk of digestive system cancer and skin cancer. A person with sleep paralysis will wake up but be unable to move. 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