Breast Cancer Protecting Migraine

A migraine is a type of headache that generally causes one-sided throbbing head pain of moderate to severe intensity. Patients may also experience nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. The symptoms can last anywhere from four to 72 hours. About one-third of migraine patients have a warning period, called an aura, prior to the onset of symptoms. The aura signs may include visual disturbances (i.e., flashing lights, zigzag lines or blind spots) and numbness or tingling in the arm or face.

According to the American Migraine Foundation, about 36 million Americans get migraines. They are three times more common in women than in men. Although the symptoms can occur at any age, most patients are between 30 and 60.

A Breast Cancer Connection?

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in American women and the second leading cause of cancer death. In 2009, the American Cancer Society estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer would be diagnosed in the U.S.

Now researchers have discovered there may be a link between breast cancer risk and migraine. Many cases of breast cancer appear to be fueled by the female hormone, estrogen. In some women, estrogen also plays a role in the onset of migraine symptoms. The National Headache Foundation reports about 60 percent of female migraine patients experience symptoms several days before or during the menstrual cycle, when estrogen levels are lowest. Migraine frequency also decreases at other times when estrogen levels are low, like at the end of pregnancy and after menopause.

To look at the relationship between breast cancer risk and migraine, researchers looked at data from more than 9,000 women aged 35 to 64 – 4,568 with breast cancer and 4,678 controls. Participants lived in one of five metro areas (Seattle, Detroit, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Philadelphia) and information about migraine history was obtained from personal interviews.

Christopher Li, M.D., Ph.D., Epidemiologist with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, says the study found women with a history of migraine had about a 26 percent lower risk of breast cancer compared to age-matched women without migraine. These findings held out, even when researchers took into account use of hormones, smoking or alcohol consumption.

Sylvia Lucas, M.D., Ph.D., Neurologist with the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, says the research appears to support the hypothesis that migraines may protect women against breast cancer. However, the exact mechanism for the link isn’t known. Further studies are needed to determine what other factors may be involved in breast cancer protection, like age of onset or timing, intensity and severity of the migraine.

For general information on migraine: •American Headache Society •American Migraine Foundation •National Headache Foundation •National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

For information on breast cancer: •American Cancer Society •National Cancer Institute