“Studies suggest that dairy farmers may have varied cancer risks compared to the general population:
- **Breast, Ovarian, and Prostate Cancers**: Dairy consumption has been linked to increased risks of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers due to hormones like estrogen and IGF-1 found in milk. For example, higher dairy intake was associated with a 34% increased risk of prostate cancer and a 50% increased risk of breast cancer in some studies[2][4][6].
- **Leukemia**: Some research indicates that dairy farmers might have a higher incidence of leukemia, potentially linked to exposure to bovine leukemia virus (BLV), which can be present in milk[5].
- **Other Cancers**: Dairy farmers generally show lower overall cancer rates, possibly due to occupational exposure to endotoxins, which may reduce risks for certain cancers like lung cancer[1][3].
While dairy farming itself does not inherently increase all cancer risks, the consumption of dairy products and exposure to specific pathogens may contribute to certain types.
