The Association between Breast Cup Size and Breast Cancer Incidence: Insights from a Global Dataset - UTU Research Portal

A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

The Association between Breast Cup Size and Breast Cancer Incidence: Insights from a Global Dataset

Authors: Faraz, Mehdi; Nematollahi, Samaneh; Tahmasebi, Sedigheh; Welsh, James S; Bevelacqua, Joseph John; Mortazavi, Seyed Mohammad Javad; Mortazavi, Seyed Alireza

Publisher: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Publication year: 2025

Journal: Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering

Journal name in source: Journal of biomedical physics & engineering

Journal acronym: J Biomed Phys Eng

Volume: 15

Issue: 1

First page : 93

Last page: 100

eISSN: 2251-7200

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.2412-1869

Web address : https://jbpe.sums.ac.ir/article_50643.html

Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/484842230

Abstract

The relationship between breast size and breast cancer risk is complex and not fully understood. This study investigates how breast size, categorized by cup size, correlates with age-standardized rates (ASR) of breast cancer incidence. Data were collected from two sources: breast cancer incidence rates from the Global Cancer Observatory (GCO) and breast size data from "Data Pandas," an open-access database. This allowed for a cross-country analysis of breast cancer incidence and breast size characteristics. Descriptive statistics indicated that ASR increased with larger cup sizes, ranging from 34.72 (AA) to 90.17 (C). An ANOVA test revealed significant differences in mean ASR among cup size groups (F=14.416, P<0.001), with Bonferroni comparisons showing distinct clusters: smaller sizes (AA, AA-A, A) differed significantly from larger sizes (A-B, B, B-C, C).The largest mean ASR difference was between groups A and C (-42.93, P=0.001), highlighting higher ASR in larger cup sizes. This suggests a significant association between breast cup size and breast cancer ASR, potentially linked to physiological or hormonal factors.Despite limitations, these findings prompt further investigation. The next phase will focus on breast cancer patients, addressing relevant risk factors for a more comprehensive understanding of the associations observed.

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JBPE_Volume 15_Issue 1_Pages 93-100.pdf

Funding information in the publication:
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