1.   SIR, -- Dr Beral and Dr Reeves support an interesting hypothesis about possible similarities in the role of pregnancy and of oral contraceptive use on breast cancer risk.

2.   Hence the effect of early use on breast cancer risk at or above this age is difficult to determine.

3.   And why would adding progestin increase breast cancer risk in the first place?

4.   Anxiety also prompts many women to overreact to poorly documented reports about things like breast cancer risks from exposure to pesticides or hormones in meat.

5.   As you might guess, weight gain in adulthood increases the postmenopausal breast cancer risk.

6.   But despite some previous research that suggested breast cancer risk might be lowered by the diet, the new report found nothing of significance.

7.   But Dr. Ziegler said she was reluctant to say that diet in general is unimportant to breast cancer risk.

8.   But that is scant comfort to a woman who wants to enjoy the heart disease benefit without raising her breast cancer risk.

9.   But what can a three-year study tell you about heart benefits and breast cancer risk down the road?

10.   Colditz said Tuesday that an update of those data indicated an additive rather than a synergistic effect on breast cancer risk of alcohol plus estrogen supplements.