Breast cancer risk in women with schizophrenia: a review study

Background and Aim : : Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed among women.According to studies, one in eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifespan. The risk ofthis cancer varies depending on the symptoms associated with it, such as lifestyle, family history, andrelated diseases in different individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of breastcancer in women with schizophrenia.Methods : This study was conducted with steps consisting of search, which was carried out in the databasessuch as SID, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Psych Info, and Google scholar search engine with thekeywords like Risk , Women , Schizophrenia , Breast cancer , and their English equivalent words.Afterwards, identifying related studies from the period of 2005 to 2019, and selection of studies organized,which were after the screening of title, abstract, and full text of 76 studies, 27 studies singled out for resultsdeclaration, and then these 27 studies were classified.Results : The data obtained from these studies were inconsistent. Twenty-four studies indicated anincreased risk of breast cancer in women with schizophrenia. In these studies, the causes of an increasedrisk of breast cancer have identified as unhealthy lifestyles (such as alcohol consumption, smoking,obesity), diabetes, low physical activity, irritable mood, non-childbearing potential, non-breastfeeding,taking antipsychotic drugs (Hyperlactinemia), and the possibility of taking more birth control pills in thesewomen. Three other studies found less incidence of breast cancer in women with schizophrenia. The reasonpresented in these studies was the women’s short lifespan, which was due to the complications of thisdisease (similar to heart disease) and for not being diagnosedConclusion : According to the studies, the association between schizophrenia and the risk of breast cancerhas been confirmed. The data reviewed were inconsistent and therefore further investigations are required

Keywords:

Risk , Women , Schizophrenia , Breast cancer