Researchers have found a link between migraine and the risk of developing breast cancer.
- Suffering from migraine increases the risk of developing breast cancer according to a study.
- 20% of women are affected by migraines according to Inserm.
- Women who have migraines without aura are more likely to develop breast cancer whose tumor has negative hormone receptors.
61,214 new cases of breast cancer were detected in mainland France in 2023, according to the National Cancer Institute. It is the most common cancer in women and the deadliest. According to’Health Insuranceit is a multifactorial disease: age, sex, family and personal history, genetic predispositions or even lifestyle habits (alcohol consumption, smoking, unbalanced diet, etc.).
Migraine increases the risk of breast cancer
In a new study published in the journal BMC Cancer, researchers have just found a new risk factor: migraine. To reach this conclusion, scientists studied data from 102,804 people suffering from migraine. Among them, 14,624 had migraines with aura and 15,055 without aura.
20% of women are affected by migraines according to the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm). It is a chronic disease characterized by recurring attacks of painful headaches.
We speak of migraine with and without aura, when the headaches are accompanied or preceded by transient neurological disorders: visual, sensory, language and/or speech, or motor.
Migraine without aura: greater risk of breast cancer
Thus, researchers observed that having migraine in general was a risk factor for breast cancer in general but also for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
Indeed, Some breast cancers are hormone sensitive, meaning that cancer cells have hormone receptors that detect estrogen or progesterone, two hormones that, among other things, stimulate their growth, according to the National Cancer Institute. We then talk about estrogen receptor-positive or progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer. These can be treated with hormone therapy.
Another conclusion: women with a history of migraine without aura had a greater risk of developing breast cancer in general but also breast cancer in which the tumor has negative hormone receptors and cannot be treated with hormone therapy.
“Women with a history of migraine, especially without aura, should (be further screened for) breast cancer to be diagnosed earlier and treated accordingly”, conclude the authors.
