Summary of the Informal Discussion of Dietary Factors and Hormone-dependent Cancers

Dr. de Waard wasaskedabout variablesassociatedwith height and 1st pregnancy. The 2nd point raised was in regard to the cumulative percentageof 1st preganciesin Holland and in Japan. It was suggested that one should go back about 30 or 40 years since it seemed that at that time the age of 1st pregnancy in Holland and Japan varied. Dr. de Waard responded that the relationship among weight, height, and menarche is complex and neededsorting out in terms of mechanisms and the relationship that exists among them. He noted that his data are fairly recent and cross-sectional and that it might be helpful to have historical data as well. One participant reported that in 524 cases of breast cancer in a white population in New York he had found no relationship to height or weight and that this may be due to a population difference in America and the Netherlands. Furthermore, the height and weight data could not explain in the United Statesa higher rate amongJewsand a lower rate among blacks. Also one can selectdata easily as shown by the fact that women with endometrial cancer are significantly heavier than controls. It was reported that young women in the United States are taller than older women and that younger women have menstruated earlier than the older women. There is a