UVR &Breast Cancer

UVR &Breast Cancer
Reducing Your Relative Risk

by Donald L. Smith

The benefits of sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR far outweigh the minimal and manageable risks involved, especially when one considers that optimal levels of vitamin D appear to reduce the relative risk of developing breast cancer.

The Study

In 1998, 184,300 women were diagnosed (incidence) with breast cancer and 43,900 died (mortality) for an incidence to mortality rate of 4.1 to 1, making this form of cancer the most lethal for women. Therefore, anything that has the potential to reduce the relative risk of developing breast cancer must be given a high priority from a public policy and human compassion point of view.

That is why a recent study conducted by Ester M. John and associates at the Northern California Cancer Center titled "Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Risk: The NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study, 1971-1975 to 1992" is so important.

In this report, the authors stated: "In this cohort analysis, we found that high exposure to sunlight was associated with a 25 percent to 65 percent reduction in breast cancer risk among women whose longest residence was in a state of high solar radiation." It also stated that: "No reductions in risk were found for women who lived in regions of low solar radiation." Finally, the study stated that: "Our results would be particularly promising for the primary prevention of breast cancer since dietary vitamin D and casual sunlight exposure are modifiable lifestyle factors," all of which combine to provide a course of action for women (men also develop breast cancer) wishing to reduce their relative risk of this dreaded disease.

Before discussing the course of action that women (and men) can take to reduce their relative risk of developing breast cancer, it is important to take a moment to review exactly what the authors of this important study say.

First, living in the southern or southwestern portion of the country where the level of ambient sunlight is higher year-round provides residents of those states with a significant benefit, i.e., maintenance of higher levels of vitamin D. The component of sunlight that induces the production of vitamin D are the ultraviolet radiation (UVB, UVA2 and UVA1) wavelengths. When the authors speak of modifiable lifestyle factors that particularly are promising for the primary prevention of breast cancer, one answer could be moving from areas of lower solar radiation (northern latitudes) to an area of higher solar radiation (southern latitudes). While that approach is not very realistic, the same objective can be obtained by patronizing an indoor tanning salon.

This course of action is easy to accomplish, relatively inexpensive and provides other benefits as well. All that is required is for women (and men) interested in reducing their relative risk of breast cancer by 25 percent to 65 percent to begin a regimen of sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR. In addition, this can best be accomplished by routinely (every other or every third day) visiting an indoor tanning salon where both women and men can be assured of a supply of UVR that is not seasonal or weather dependent.

As mentioned before, there were 184,300 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 1998 and a 25 percent reduction in this number would mean 46,075 women would not have suffered the trauma of this disease. Moreover, the mortality toll of 43,900 would have been reduced by approximately 11,000 deaths. Therefore, there is no question that a plan of action with the potential to reduce the relative risk of breast cancer by even just 25 percent is eminently worthwhile. That plan of action should include taking a vitamin supplement that provides a daily vitamin D intake of at least 200 international units in addition to routine exposure to UVR.

What Are The Risks of Developing Non-melanoma Skin Cancer?

In 1998, there were only 1,200 deaths attributed to non-melanoma skin cancer, the only form of skin cancer shown to link with repeated overexposure to UVR. That means there were, on a sex-adjusted basis, more than 70 deaths from breast cancer for every one from non-melanoma skin cancer. Furthermore, the concept of sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR advocated by the indoor tanning industry means that overexposure, which is defined as a dose of UVR that will cause sunburn, is avoided thereby reducing the minimal and manageable risks involved. That being stated, the possible reduction of the relative risk of developing breast cancer by 25 percent to 65 percent is a powerful reason to support the notion that the benefits of sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR far outweigh the minimal and manageable risks involved.

Donald L. Smith is executive director of The North American Alliance of Tanning Salon Owners (TSO), an organization dedicated to looking out for the best interests of tanning salon owners. For more information check out the Web site at www.naatso.org or call (888) 994-3828.