Working nights increases breast cancer risk

Read this CBC news article correlating longterm night shift work with an increase in breast cancer: Night shift workers face increased breast cancer risk

The new study is based on the work patterns of women from diverse occupations. The original study, conducted amongst nurses, considers how work schedules relate to cancer. It suggests that light suppresses the body’s release of melatonin. Melatonin, a hormone, is believed to help prevent cancer. The study took into consideration other factors attributed to increased cancer rates, which you can read about in this article.

Interestingly, the conclusion that  is not new – you’ll read that, following a 2007 decision by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, 37 nurses in Denmark were compensated after it was determined they got breast cancer after working nights.

Two other points I took from this article:

  • The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) considers shift work as a probable carcinogen.
  • Researcher, Prof. Kristan Aronson’s goal: “Our ultimate aim is to prevent breast cancer all together.”
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