Exposure to Animals and Selected Risk Factors Among Canadian Farm Residents with Hodgkin's Disease, Multiple Myeloma, or Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Exposures to farm animals has been associated with certain rare cancers. Simultaneously, using the same methodology and control group, we conducted a six-province incident, population-based study of Hodgkin's disease (HD), multiple myeloma (MM), and sofi tissue sarcoma (STS). Farm residence or work was reported by 38% (n = 119) of HD, 45% (n = 178) of MM, 43% (n = 156) of STS cases and 45% (n = 673) of controls. We conducted conditional logistic regression analyses and report odds ratios (ORadj) and 95 % confidenc intervals. After adjustment for covariates, exposure to farm animals had minimal effect on risk. The independentriskfactors after adjustment for covariates were a family history of cancer (MM, STS), occupational uranium exposure (HD), professional driving (MM), and personal previous cancer (MM) or shingles (HD, MM).