"Study: Fellatio may significantly decrease the risk
of breast cancer in women (AP)

--Women who perform the act of fellatio on a regular
basis, one to two times a week, may reduce their risk
of breast cancer by up to 40 percent, a North Carolina
State University study found.

Doctors had never suspected a link between the act of
fellatio and breast cancer, but new research being
performed at North Carolina State University is
starting to suggest that there could be an important
link between the two. In a study of over 15,000 women
suspected of having performed regular fellatio over
the past ten years, the researchers found that those
actually having performed the act regularly, one to
two times a week, had a lower occurrence of breast
cancer than those who had not.

There was no increased risk, however, for those who
did not regularly perform. "I think it removes the
last shade of doubt that fellatio is actually a
healthy act," said Dr. B.J. Sooner of Johns Hopkins
School of Medicine, who was not involved in the
research. "I am surprised by these findings, but am
also excited that the researchers may have discovered
a relatively easy way to lower the occurrence of
breast cancer in women."

The University researchers stressed that, though
breast cancer is relatively uncommon, any steps taken
to reduce the risk would be a wise decision. "Only
with regular performance will your chances be reduced,
so I encourage all women out there to make fellatio an
important part of their daily routine," said Dr.
Inserta Shafteer, one of the researchers at the
University. "Since the emergence of the research, I
try to fellate at least once every other night to
reduce my chances."

The study is reported in Friday's Journal of Medical
Research. In 1991, 43,582 women died of breast cancer,
as reported by the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Len
Lictepeen, deputy chief medical officer for the
American Cancer Society, said women should not
overlook or "play down" these findings. "This will
hopefully change women's practice and patterns,
resulting in a severe drop in the future number of
cases," Lictepeen said. Sooner said the research shows
no increase in the risk of breast cancer in those who
are, for whatever reason, not able to fellate
regularly. "There's definitely fertile ground for more
research. Many have stepped forward to volunteer for
related research now in the planning stages," he said.
Almost every woman is, at some point, going to perform
the act of fellatio, but it is the frequency at which
this event occurs that makes the difference, say
researchers.

The research consisted of two groups, 6,246 women ages
25 to 45 who had performed fellatio on a regular basis
over the past five to ten years, and 9,728 women who
had not. The group of women who had performed fellatio
had a breast cancer rate of 1.9 percent and the group
who had not had a breast cancer rate of 10.4 percent.
"The findings do suggest that there are other causes
for breast cancer besides the absence of regular
fellatio," Shafteer said. "It's a cause, not THE
cause."