@laurab - I think 100+ years ago - it allowed 'them' to do an indepth (if not perfect) study on women who hadn't had children (or supposed to not have!) I don't think there is much credence on its relevance to Nuns these days - or indeed to women who've never been pregnant or not had children. It was in the early 60s that I was at the primary school - and I was aware of Nuns getting ill and not always returning to the school .... and that was often the whispered reason.
Yep - there are, I bet, WAY MORE women who 'have' had children who've gone on to develop BC and I often wondered if it was BECAUSE they'd had children!!..... And who knows how many women may have undiagnosed BC, when they actually pass of something else? (Much the same as they reckon so many men die 'with' Prostate cancer, not 'from it' - and unaware they 'had' it.)
'They' really don't know why many of us get breast cancer, unless there is a genetic link (Brca 1 or 2 gene mutation) or a family history of it ....
'They' keep saying that keeping fit, not smoking, not drinking alcohol will reduce your likelihood of developing BC (or any cancers) ... but that isn't always the way it goes either ...
I am the first in my immediate & past family (numerous generations) to get BC - or ANY cancer! My family always had heart attacks - so it was a real shock to me! In a funny way, I'd always been a bit 'smug' with that family history - concentrating on heart related 'preventions'! I honestly didn't think I'd end up with any sort of cancer!
As @iserbrown says - it is what it is .... and we just have to deal with it, under the guidance & knowledge of our medical team and the help & support of family & friends.
take care
