Left-handedness and risk of breast cancer

2007/08/01 by Lin Fritschi, Mark Divitini, Alison Talbot-Smith +1 · 3 citations
Neuroscience · #Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience

paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6603920

openalex publication_date 2007/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

Left-handedness may be an indicator of intrauterine exposure to oestrogens, which may increase the risk of breast cancer. Women (n=1786) from a 1981 health survey in Busselton were followed up using death and cancer registries. Left-handers had higher risk of breast cancer than right-handers and the effect was greater for post-menopausal breast cancer (hazard ratio=2.59, 95% confidence interval 1.11-6.03).

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