Evidence linking female hormones to the development of malignant melanoma has been contradictory. The purpose of this study by HIP Investigator Dr. Maureen Smith was to examine the risk of melanoma in relation to exogenous and endogenous hormonal variables in women, including oral contraceptives, replacement oestrogens, pregnancy, and menopause.
Hormonal and reproductive factors ascertained through personal interviews were compared between 308 Caucasian women diagnosed with incident invasive melanoma in 1987-89 (listed in hospital tumor registry logs) and 233 age-matched controls selected through random digit dialing. Their findings suggest that neither exogenous nor endogenous hormones contribute significantly to an increased risk of melanoma.
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