TY - BOOK
T1 - Effect of the childhood environment on adult reproductive behaviours and endometrial cancer risk
AU - Argus, Fritha
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - [Truncated abstract] This thesis brings together the biological effects of different childhood environments with an examination of the influence of these same biological variables on cancer risk. It is the first integrative piece of research to model such relationships across the life course. The first 5-7 years of life are important in the development of reproductive behaviours and adult pair-bonding. Individuals with stressful childhood environments often have early maturation, early onset of sexual activity, and early, rapid reproduction. Additionally, functional birth order and natal family composition influence onset of sexual maturation and activity, and in some populations impact reproductive timing and success. These reproductive parameters (e.g. age at menarche and number of children) influence the number of menstrual cycles a woman experiences. Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer and the fourth most common cancer in women. Lifetime exposure to oestrogen and progesterone, and the relative number of menstrual cycles influence endometrial cancer risk. Therefore, it can be hypothesised that early childhood conditions may influence the risk of endometrial cancer through changes to adult reproductive behaviours and hormone exposure. My investigation of these relationships comprises a case-control study using both questionnaire and routinely recorded cancer registry data. Women with endometrial cancer (cases) and women with non-reproductive, non-endocrine cancers (controls) were invited to participate by completing a questionnaire about their childhood, reproductive history and adult lifestyle. A total of 1192 women (response fraction = 42.5%) returned completed questionnaires. After exclusion of women with incorrectly diagnosed cancers or missing data, and controls reporting a hysterectomy, the resulting data set included 252 Type 1 endometrial cancer cases and 558 controls.
AB - [Truncated abstract] This thesis brings together the biological effects of different childhood environments with an examination of the influence of these same biological variables on cancer risk. It is the first integrative piece of research to model such relationships across the life course. The first 5-7 years of life are important in the development of reproductive behaviours and adult pair-bonding. Individuals with stressful childhood environments often have early maturation, early onset of sexual activity, and early, rapid reproduction. Additionally, functional birth order and natal family composition influence onset of sexual maturation and activity, and in some populations impact reproductive timing and success. These reproductive parameters (e.g. age at menarche and number of children) influence the number of menstrual cycles a woman experiences. Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer and the fourth most common cancer in women. Lifetime exposure to oestrogen and progesterone, and the relative number of menstrual cycles influence endometrial cancer risk. Therefore, it can be hypothesised that early childhood conditions may influence the risk of endometrial cancer through changes to adult reproductive behaviours and hormone exposure. My investigation of these relationships comprises a case-control study using both questionnaire and routinely recorded cancer registry data. Women with endometrial cancer (cases) and women with non-reproductive, non-endocrine cancers (controls) were invited to participate by completing a questionnaire about their childhood, reproductive history and adult lifestyle. A total of 1192 women (response fraction = 42.5%) returned completed questionnaires. After exclusion of women with incorrectly diagnosed cancers or missing data, and controls reporting a hysterectomy, the resulting data set included 252 Type 1 endometrial cancer cases and 558 controls.
KW - Endometrial cancer
KW - Progesterone
KW - Reproductive strategies
KW - Early childhood
KW - Oestrogen
KW - Adverse childhood events
M3 - Doctoral Thesis
ER -