Fast-food consumption by adolescent girls may sow the seeds of breast cancer decades later

<p>An hypothesis of breast cancer development:</p> <p>&bull;Breast development occurs largely during the years of puberty in adolescent girls</p> <p>&bull;Environmental assaults during that vulnerable time window can seed changes that take decades to complete</p> <p>&bull;Advanced glycation end-products (AGE) are found in high concentrations in processed foods, especially fast-food</p> <p>&bull;In mice, AGE produce pubertal breast changes in both epithelium and stroma, including atypical hyperplasia</p> <p>&bull;The stromal changes in humans may be manifest as increased breast density as measured by mammography</p> <p>&bull;These data provide a link between processed, fast-food, high breast density, and future breast cancer</p> <p>&bull;Breast cancer prevention may include the avoidance of fast-food, especially in adolescent girls undergoing pubertal breast development</p>