Hi just wondered if anyone can share any info on the link between breast cancer and night work.
I have read alot in the papers and internet ( not always useful i know!!) I returned to work NHS nurse rotational shifts in oct 2008 i did part time for a bit then full time but then went back to 30 hrs did not do nights but i am now expected to start doing nights. I am working full time which is quite tiring and i am concerned that by working nights may not be good , and may increase my risk of bc returning.
I’d read about this ages ago and I can’t remember where it was from. I’m a nurse too, but work 2 nights a week and at the moment have pushed it to the back of my mind as I like my nights and hate the thought of doing days.
I too read this article a while ago and cannot remember for the life of me where i saw it. 2009 from Jan- Sept i did nights to allow for my son to do nursery. I do wonder if this exacerbated my situation.
I worked 24 years on nights in a nursing home while bringing up my kids, mostly full time. After being diagnosed with breast cancer last year I dropped down to 20 hours a week, still on nights when returning to work.
Not too sure about the link between working nights and breast cancer though, as I know lots of women that worked nights and seem ok at the moment.
Also I have some relatives that had breast cancer so mine could be in the genes.
hi, i too have concerns about this, a survey was done in scandinavia and it was shown night workers had more incidence of breast cancer and some are even suing the government. over here there is a survey being done but the results will not be made known until 2011. i too have worked nights for 30 years in emergency services. i have managed to reduce to doing 3 days and 1 night per week but would love not to do nights anymore, i get so tired but have been told they have made all what they think is a " resonable adjustment " so get on with it or leave. Louise it does say it takes many years of night work to “possibly” cause problems so doubt if it contributed to you.
WOW I was amazed to read this link as I had never heard of any link between BC and nights. I have worked shift patterns all my life! Where can I read alittle more about this link???
Hi I worked full time night shift for 26 years (i also am a nurse) was interested to read this article and im going to keep an eye out for our governments reply in 2011… A colleague of mine worked nights for over twenty years and she also has breast cancer, another one has bowel cancer… so might be something in it…
HI ALL iam also a nurse and have worked nights for over twenty years although i do only two nights a week so hopefully boost my melatonin levels on my days off although i was also stronly Er+ve ( scored 8) so this is probably more to do with my b/c i also think stress also has a lot to do with it and shifts ,staffing levels and demands of nursing certainly is stressfull 3 collegues of mine have also had B/C and one bowel and ovarian so it certainly makes you think . hazards.org/hours/shiftwork#cancerriskandshiftwork
IM a midwife and have worked my share of night since i started training in 2002. There are a lot of staff members with breast cancer at work altho it could just be we are all women so nothing to contrast with!!
Hi Sarah, I’m a nurse too and have done more than my fair share of nights over the years.
After dx of BC, I just couldnt face the prospect of another night duty again, so I went to Occ Health and they where really supportive. I didnt mention any research to them, but just told them how I felt and that I really couldnt cope with the stess of night duty. They wrote to my manager recommending I didnt do nights for at least 6 months, and after that, if they wanted to put me on nights I had to have an OH assessment first, havent done a night duty for 2 years now.
Also, you have the Disability Discrimination Act on your side, and your manager has to make reasonable adjustment to accomodate your needs.
I also dropped my hours to 2 days a week as I just couldnt be doing with the daily stress and politics of nursing.
Jane
Hi Ladies,
What an interesting post. I also did nights in the police force but thast was over 20 years before my dx. The girl I worked with on my section and also shared accommodation for a short while has had breast cancer too!!
Had never heard of this possible connection before.
Love to you all,
Jane xx
Hi All,
I am a nurse too and did permanent nights for 3 months - not sure if this was enough as a contributing factor, but interestingly I do suffer a bit with insomnia - have done all my life. I basically have days and weeks of not sleeping - I believe from what I have read that we make melatonin between 10pm and 2am. Well I must of made very little all my life…mmmm makes you think.
Lynn x
Hi all thanks for your replys. I have spoken to my manager who suggests i stop doing any more nights. I am going through occ health just to make it official. So hopefully i will feel better without the stress of working night.