HHS Public Access Author manuscript Author Manuscript
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 May 01. Published in final edited form as:
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2016 May ; 25(5): 864. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-16-0076.
Periodontal Disease and Breast Cancer--Response Jo L. Freudenheim1 and Michael J LaMonte1 1Department
of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY USA
Author Manuscript
We appreciate the data provided by Drs. Lehrer, Green and Rosenzweig regarding ecological associations of breast cancer death rates and reported tooth loss from decay or gum disease among adults over age 65. In our paper (1), we examined breast cancer incidence; we did not examine prognosis or mortality. Further, the exposure measure they used was different from our measure of reported diagnosis of periodontal disease; theirs focused on tooth loss included loss to decay. As they note, their findings need to be cautiously interpreted given that it is not known if individuals in that survey with tooth loss are the ones who are dying of breast cancer. Further, confounding by other factors, which they were not able to control, might also impact the findings.
Author Manuscript
We concur that further research regarding the interplay between chronic disease of the oral cavity and incidence and mortality from other systemic diseases including breast cancer is warranted.
References 1. Freudenheim JL, Genco RJ, LaMonte MJ, Millen AE, Hovey KM, Mai X, Nwizu N, Andrews CA, Wactawski-Wende J. Periodontal disease and breast cancer risk in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI OS). Ca Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2016; 25(1):43–50.
Author Manuscript Correspondence to: JL Freudenheim, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, 240 Farber Hall, Buffalo, NY 14214 USA. ; Email: [email protected]; telephone: 716-829-5375. Conflict of Interest: Neither of the authors has any potential conflict of interest
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 May 01. Published in final edited form as:
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2016 May ; 25(5): 864. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-16-0076.
Periodontal Disease and Breast Cancer--Response Jo L. Freudenheim1 and Michael J LaMonte1 1Department
of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY USA
Author Manuscript
We appreciate the data provided by Drs. Lehrer, Green and Rosenzweig regarding ecological associations of breast cancer death rates and reported tooth loss from decay or gum disease among adults over age 65. In our paper (1), we examined breast cancer incidence; we did not examine prognosis or mortality. Further, the exposure measure they used was different from our measure of reported diagnosis of periodontal disease; theirs focused on tooth loss included loss to decay. As they note, their findings need to be cautiously interpreted given that it is not known if individuals in that survey with tooth loss are the ones who are dying of breast cancer. Further, confounding by other factors, which they were not able to control, might also impact the findings.
Author Manuscript
We concur that further research regarding the interplay between chronic disease of the oral cavity and incidence and mortality from other systemic diseases including breast cancer is warranted.
References 1. Freudenheim JL, Genco RJ, LaMonte MJ, Millen AE, Hovey KM, Mai X, Nwizu N, Andrews CA, Wactawski-Wende J. Periodontal disease and breast cancer risk in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI OS). Ca Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2016; 25(1):43–50.
Author Manuscript Correspondence to: JL Freudenheim, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, 240 Farber Hall, Buffalo, NY 14214 USA. ; Email: [email protected]; telephone: 716-829-5375. Conflict of Interest: Neither of the authors has any potential conflict of interest
