Life-course, reproductive, and environmental determinants of women’s cancer

Why this project matters

Cancer risk does not arise from a single cause or moment in life. It is shaped over time by biological, reproductive, environmental, and socioeconomic factors that may begin early in life and accumulate across adulthood. Better understanding these pathways can help explain why some women are at higher risk, why trends differ across generations and social groups, and how prevention and healthcare can be improved.

Research focus

The project aims to:

• clarify how early- and mid-life exposures influence women’s cancer risk
• examine how reproductive history and reproductive health relate to later cancer development
• study trends in early-onset and hormone-related cancers across birth cohorts and social groups
• investigate how environmental exposures, lifestyle factors, and access to healthcare shape cancer incidence and outcomes
• identify social and biological markers that may support earlier detection and more equitable prevention strategies

Methods and data

The project combines population registers, historical demographic databases, reproductive and medical data, prescription data, geocoded environmental information, and cancer outcomes. It will analyse factors such as childbearing patterns, breastfeeding, pregnancy complications, smoking, exogenous hormone use, place of residence, and socioeconomic conditions in relation to cancer incidence, timing of diagnosis, and outcomes. The project also examines how these relationships have changed over time in response to broader societal shifts, including changing fertility patterns, health inequalities, and healthcare systems.