The findings are most striking for post-menopausal women - those with the highest intake of red meat, the equivalent to one portion a day (more than 57 grams) - run a 56 per cent greater risk of breast cancer than those who eat none. Women who eat the most processed meat, such as bacon, sausages, ham or pies, run a 64 per cent greater risk of breast cancer than those who eat none.

Researchers at the University??™s Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics have been tracking the eating habits and health of more than 35,000 women for the past seven years, and their latest findings are published in the British Journal of Cancer. Earlier findings, widely reported in January, showed that pre-menopausal women who have the greatest intake of fibre have cut their risk of breast cancer in half.

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Based in part on the conflicting evidence, medical groups have differing screening recommendations for women under age 50. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists both recommend screening mammography every one to two years for women in their 40s, while the 2006 American Cancer Society guideline recommends yearly mammograms starting at age 40.

Because of the ongoing controversy, the American College of Physicians' Clinical Efficacy Assessment Subcommittee decided to take its own look at the evidence related to screening in women in their 40s. After their review, the group concluded that screening mammography for women in this age group likely provides a modest reduction in breast cancer mortality, but - as with any screening intervention - it also comes with the risk of potential harms. Based on this, it recommended that clinicians:

Periodically perform individualized assessment of risk for breast cancer to help guide decisions about screening mammography Inform women ages 40 to 49 of the potential benefits and harms of screening mammography Base screening mammography decisions on benefits and harms of screening as well as a woman's preferences and breast cancer risk profile

In the new guidelines, the organization emphasizes the importance of using a woman's concerns about breast cancer and screening to help guide decision-making about mammography. Women's thoughts about mammography or their risks of developing breast cancer will likely vary greatly, the group notes, but it expects the potential reduction in breast cancer mortality associated with screening to outweigh other considerations for many women.

"We still think many women will choose to get mammography, and we're supportive of that," said Owens. "The most important thing is that women be well-informed about the decision they're making."

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