Much of the news on this topic has been about the colony of bacteria deep in your gut; scientists believe that the mix may contribute to all sorts of medical conditions including from Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disorder, and anxiety.
In one of the most recent studies, researchers from the Mayo Clinic have identified significant differences in the breast bacteria of women with and without breast cancer.
The tiny organisms contained within the breast of women who had benign breast disease — lesions and abnormalities that ended up not being cancerous — were dramatically different from those in samples taken from the same locations in women who did have cancer.
Not only did breast skin have a different mix of bacteria, but the bacteria that lived there also were more abundant.
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The findings raise questions about exactly what the microbes — or lack thereof — might mean in terms of breast cancer. “We don’t really know if it’s the presence or perhaps the absence of a certain bacteria that can confer risk or lead to the development of cancer,” [Tina J. Hieken, a Mayo Clinic breast surgical oncologist who led the study] said. “Or is it an entire bacterial community that is required?”
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: There’s a breast microbiome, and it’s different in women with breast cancer
