Amish and Hutterites have unusually high rates of breast cancer and juvenile leukemia. ~ Pubmed

[mzmolly]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3393918

Soc Sci Med. 1988;26(10):1007-17. ~ Review of cancer among 4 religious sects: evidence that life-styles are distinctive sets of risk factors. - Troyer H.

University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Basic Life Sciences 64108.

Abstract

The occurrence of various types of cancer have been reviewed and evaluated in 4 religious groups. These patterns have been critically assessed in light of the distinctive life-style features of these groups. All 4 religious groups considered in this paper have reduced overall rates of cancer, suggesting that the life-styles of all 4 groups have merit in terms of reducing the overall risk of cancer. The rate of smoking among these groups is nearly nil, and the lung cancer rate in all 4 of these religious groups is strikingly low. Cancer of the oral structures, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus is also generally quite low. Amish and Hutterites have unusually high rates of breast cancer and juvenile leukemia. Reproductive factors frequently mentioned as risk factors for breast cancer cannot explain the excess breast cancer in the Amish and Hutterite women because they should have had the effect of reducing the rate. None of the numerous risk factors, normally suggested for leukemia, are consistent with this observation. The observations on ovarian cancer tend to confirm low parity and late age at first birth as risk factors, although the evidence is not entirely consistent. Also, contrary to common observations, the pattern of ovarian cancer contrasts greatly with the breast cancer pattern, suggesting dissimilar risk factors ...

This is an older finding but it's interesting given the Amish have lower overall rates of cancers related to lifestyle according to various studies. It would be interesting to see if this finding has been duplicated.

*Higher rates of genetic disorders such as downs syndrome are higher among the Amish population due to "intermarriage," for lack of a better word. This may explain the increased risk for child leukemia if it exists?

[Curmudgeoness]

1. Lack of genetic diversity could account for the higher rates of occurence

of certain illnesses. Because these groups marry from inside the group, any genetic problem will be intensified.

It is significant to note the lower rates of other cancers that are reported to be caused by environmental factors. That says something for the way the rest of us are living. Or it could be for the same reasons as the higher rates---genetic factors.

[LiberalLoner]

2. My great-grandmother was Amish, descended from the earliest Anabaptists in Switzerland, and

yes we have many many cases of breast cancer (even pre-menopausal) in our family and one incidence that I know of, of childhood leukemia. And we have some other really weird things too but don't know if they are genetic or just..?

[mzmolly]

4. Excellent question.

:shrug: I couldn't find any more studies in this vein. It's possible I was not searching properly.

[hedgehog]

7. I'm guessing that when the Anabaptists got here, they already had

a limited gene pool simply because in Switzerland at that time (as in most other places) you most likely married someone born within five miles or in the same valley as you. People whose ancestors came from the same general area will share genetic traits.

Note that this is not the same as "race". It's confusing to make that distinction, but "race" is an outmoded concept with a lot of bad "science" behind it and has more to do with eugenics than modern genetics.


I wonder if good old American mutts will tend to be hardier than their "pure-bred" fellow humans over the generations.

[mzmolly]

8. If the mutt theory you pose holds up ...

I'm in very good shape. ;)

[enough]

3. The Amish in our area use large amounts of pesticides, including pesticides

indoors in greenhouses. I have walked into Amish greenhouses when pesticides were being sprayed by small barefoot girls with absolutely no protection of any kind, either for the skin or for the lungs. Nobody in the place seems to think there's any reason to take precautions.

I inquired what they were spraying and was told it was Sevin, which is something I wouldn't use even outdoors.

Work in greenhouses and truck gardens is often done by children alongside the women.

[mzmolly]

5. Pesticides might best explain the increase if this is a wide spread issue.

:( UGH.

[leftyladyfrommo]

13. That's what I was going to ask.

Being around lots of pestacides could really make a difference in the breast cancer rates. And they live out on those farms all of their lives.

[donco6]

6. My doctor said they're finding many cancers with genetic + enviro links.

You can carry the gene, but if the environment doesn't trigger it, you don't get it. But if you have the gene and get exposed to something (they don't know what), you get cancer.

[Recursion]

9. Reduce the most common killers and you get more of the less common killers?

I mean, if you greatly lower the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and auto accidents then the next most common killers are going to be more common, right?

[mzmolly]

10. The child leukemia is what

is interesting to me. I can understand your point when it comes to adult causes of death, however.

[Odin2005]

11. Inbreeding.

[mzmolly]

12. Could be?

Seems we may have an opportunity to examine these people and perhaps find some clues to the disease?