New Study Links Processed Meats to Breast Cancer

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A new study has found a link between processed meats and breast cancer after looking at data of more than a million women.
According to CNN, the study found that regular consumption of bacon, sausage, ham and other processed meats led to a 9 percent higher risk of breast cancer compared to those who ate very little.
“Cutting down processed meats seems beneficial for the prevention of breast cancer,” lead author Dr. Maryam Farvid, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said.
Processed meats are meats that have been preserved through smoking, curing, or salting to extend the shelf life, or change the taste.
The findings back up previous findings from the World Health Organization, which linked processed meats to cancer, however experts are warning caution about the findings and say the actual risk for individual women is “very small” according to the BBC.
The authors of the study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, acknowledged that these are observational studies that do not take into account the other lifestyle habits of the women studied and other risk factors.