378:. An international study, published in 1970, on which MacMahon was the lead author showed for the first time that the age at which a woman first gives birth significantly affects her risk of later developing breast cancer; giving birth at a young age was found to be protective. Subsequent work by MacMahon's group showed that every year a woman delays giving birth after the age of eighteen increases her risk of developing breast cancer by 3.5%. The 1970 study stimulated later research into hormonal causes of breast cancer.
326:. MacMahon built the Harvard School of Public Health into a world-class research institution; he particularly prided himself, however, on nurturing students, many of whom went on to become leaders in the field of epidemiology. Well-known former students include
322:, a learned society for epidemiologists. In 1976, he was appointed the Henry Pickering Walcott Professor of Epidemiology at the school, and he also served as the Associate Dean (1977–78). From 1974, he held a professorship in public health at the
189:, where his father, Desmond MacMahon, was a professional violinist. In 1948, he married Heidi Marie Graber from Switzerland (died 2001); the couple had two sons and two daughters. MacMahon also had a brother, Paddy, who was a doctor in the
481:
472:
in his hands, which hindered computer use, MacMahon remained active in research long after his official retirement, for example, contributing a final review on pyloric stenosis in 2006.
40:
421:. Their study showed that non-smoking women whose husbands smoked heavily (more than a pack per day) had a greater than threefold increased risk of developing lung cancer.
1221:
452:. Academic criticism focused on the study's choice of controls. Subsequent studies, including one by MacMahon's group, failed to confirm the association. He studied
1120:
Lieberman AJ. (1997) Facts versus fears: a review of the 20 greatest unfounded health scares of recent times. pp. 18–19 (American
Council on Science and Health)
850:
489:
256:
746:
1241:
1226:
521:
501:
1216:
1131:
345:, with Thomas Pugh. Described by Willett as "the first modern epidemiology textbook", it became a standard text in the subject. He co-edited
1100:
780:
982:
672:
240:
from 1946 to 1948. He later said that these experiences left him "somewhat dispirited about a future in clinical medicine".
1211:
1231:
493:
319:
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225:
468:
of infants. His work focused attention on the effect of environmental factors on this disease. Despite developing
723:
315:
272:
158:
137:
20:
1236:
555:
374:, at a time when most epidemiologists concentrated on infectious diseases. His best-known research relates to
323:
525:
292:
217:
196:
MacMahon emigrated to the United States in the late 1950s, and became a U.S. citizen in 1962. He died at
512:
Cancer
Research Foundation for his work on the epidemiology of cancer (1992). He became a member of the
469:
248:
221:
517:
288:
213:
90:
485:
381:
MacMahon's group also studied other factors associated with breast cancer risk, including age at
410:
327:
513:
505:
453:
237:
197:
109:
78:
1048:
Trichopoulos D, Kalandidi A, Sparros L, MacMahon B. (1981) Lung cancer and passive smoking.
602:
Trichopoulos D, Kalandidi A, Sparros L, MacMahon B. (1981) Lung cancer and passive smoking.
432:. This research was not without controversy: a case-control study which unexpectedly linked
1201:
1196:
440:
provoked a storm of protest from coffee drinkers and industry groups, with coverage in the
8:
1119:
1097:
773:
276:
268:
60:
1173:
1152:
1078:
1053:
1032:
1007:
979:
971:
946:
925:
900:
875:
664:
645:
626:
607:
592:
573:
551:
497:
437:
1168:
MacMahon B. (2006) The continuing enigma of pyloric stenosis of infancy: a review.
465:
425:
398:
318:, USA, a position he held until his retirement in 1988. In 1967, he co-founded the
264:
174:
291:, UK, and at the Department of Environmental Medicine and Community Health at the
1104:
986:
784:
414:
367:
300:
166:
1147:
MacMahon B. (1957) Epidemiological evidence on the nature of
Hodgkin's disease.
509:
429:
394:
331:
154:
568:
McKeown T, MacMahon B. (1955) Infantile pyloric stenosis in parent and child.
456:, providing evidence that the disease might be caused by more than one agent.
247:
at the
University of Birmingham brought him into contact with epidemiologists
1190:
941:
Trichopoulos D, MacMahon B, Cole P. (1972) Menopause and breast cancer risk.
375:
308:
244:
162:
1002:. (1995) Risk of breast cancer in relation to lifetime alcohol consumption.
829:
1177:
1156:
577:
229:
190:
127:
1098:
Epimonitor: Coffee and pancreatic cancer: an interview with Brian MacMahon
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1057:
1036:
1011:
975:
950:
929:
904:
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263:
in "social medicine" (as epidemiology was then known) studying infantile
252:
170:
851:
Pearce J. Dr. Duncan W. Clark, voice for fluoridated water, dies at 96.
233:
966:. (1994) Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer.
659:. (1994) Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer.
390:
386:
186:
161:
from 1958 until 1988. Best known for his work on the epidemiology of
267:. After gaining his PhD in 1952, he travelled to the US to obtain a
382:
304:
296:
920:. (1982) Age at menarche, urine estrogens and breast cancer risk.
1027:. (1986) Diet and breast cancer: a case-control study in Greece.
39:
433:
371:
201:
153:(23 August 1923 – 5 December 2007) was a British-born American
516:
in 1973, and later received honorary doctorates from the
260:
16:
American epidemiologist and cancer researcher (1923–2007)
366:
MacMahon was unusual in focusing on the epidemiology of
747:
Marquard B. Brian MacMahon, an epidemiologist; at 84.
724:
Willett W. (2004) A conversation with Brian MacMahon.
413:, MacMahon pioneered research into the association of
165:, he also pioneered research on associations between
870:. (1970) Age at first birth and breast cancer risk.
719:
717:
715:
713:
711:
709:
587:. (1970) Age at first birth and breast cancer risk.
424:
He was also one of the first to study the effect of
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705:
703:
701:
699:
697:
695:
693:
691:
689:
895:. (1983) Age at any birth and breast cancer risk.
640:. (1983) Age at any birth and breast cancer risk.
428:on cancer; this work was continued by his student
157:who chaired the Department of Epidemiology of the
1222:Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health alumni
1188:
733:
686:
287:MacMahon's early academic positions were at the
482:National Divisional Distinguished Service Award
830:"History – Society for Epidemiologic Research"
769:
767:
765:
763:
761:
759:
502:London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
1093:
1091:
811:
809:
807:
805:
803:
801:
799:
797:
795:
793:
207:
1115:
1113:
1073:. (1981) Coffee and cancer of the pancreas.
621:. (1981) Coffee and cancer of the pancreas.
236:, MacMahon served as a ship's doctor in the
756:
19:For other people named Brian MacMahon, see
1088:
790:
38:
1110:
282:
998:Longnecker MP, Newcomb PA, Mittendorf R
279:degree at the University of Birmingham.
1023:Katsouyanni K, Trichopoulos D, Boyle P
1242:British emigrants to the United States
1227:Alumni of the University of Birmingham
1189:
844:
314:In 1958, he was appointed head of the
962:Newcomb PA, Storer BE, Longnecker MP
891:Trichopoulos D, Hsieh CC, MacMahon B
655:Newcomb PA, Storer BE, Longnecker MP
636:Trichopoulos D, Hsieh CC, MacMahon B
1217:State University of New York faculty
916:MacMahon B, Trichopoulos D, Brown J
548:Epidemiology: Principles and Methods
343:Epidemiology: Principles and Methods
774:Anon. In memoriam: Brian MacMahon.
546:(Little, Brown; 1960); reissued as
531:
13:
1069:MacMahon B, Yen S, Trichopoulos D
815:Oransky I. (2008) Brian MacMahon.
617:MacMahon B, Yen S, Trichopoulos D
562:
494:American Public Health Association
337:MacMahon co-authored the textbook
320:Society for Epidemiologic Research
303:, focusing on the epidemiology of
259:, who became his supervisors in a
14:
1253:
459:
351:Preventive and Community Medicine
212:MacMahon studied medicine at the
436:drinking with increased risk of
404:
361:
180:
1162:
1141:
1125:
1063:
1042:
1017:
992:
956:
935:
464:MacMahon worked extensively on
316:Harvard School of Public Health
275:(1953). In 1955, he gained the
273:Harvard School of Public Health
159:Harvard School of Public Health
138:Harvard School of Public Health
21:Brian MacMahon (disambiguation)
910:
885:
860:
822:
216:, gaining the diplomas of the
200:in 2007, aged 84, following a
1:
679:
349:(1967), later republished as
324:University of Hawaii at Manoa
526:State University of New York
299:, USA, where he worked with
293:State University of New York
228:in 1948. After working as a
7:
1212:American cancer researchers
866:MacMahon B, Cole P, Lin TM
583:MacMahon B, Cole P, Lin TM
356:
218:Royal College of Physicians
10:
1258:
1232:Harvard University faculty
1138:(accessed 1 February 2008)
1122:(accessed 1 February 2008)
1107:(accessed 31 January 2008)
857:(accessed 30 January 2008)
787:(accessed 30 January 2008)
753:(accessed 30 January 2008)
730:(accessed 30 January 2008)
341:(1960), later reissued as
208:Education and early career
101:Breast cancer epidemiology
18:
776:Harvard Public Health NOW
480:MacMahon was awarded the
475:
243:Enrolment in a course in
232:in impoverished areas of
222:Royal College of Surgeons
144:
133:
123:
116:
105:
97:
86:
67:
46:
37:
30:
1207:American epidemiologists
985:21 December 2007 at the
783:10 February 2008 at the
536:
518:University of Birmingham
353:, with Duncan W. Clark.
289:University of Birmingham
214:University of Birmingham
91:University of Birmingham
872:Bull World Health Organ
589:Bull World Health Organ
550:(Little, Brown; 1970) (
486:American Cancer Society
470:Dupuytren's contracture
271:in epidemiology at the
1103:3 October 2007 at the
411:Dimitrios Trichopoulos
328:Dimitrios Trichopoulos
283:Career in epidemiology
1237:Donald Reid Medalists
1132:Anon. Coffee nerves.
544:Epidemiologic Methods
542:MacMahon B, Pugh TF.
514:Institute of Medicine
506:Charles S. Mott Prize
339:Epidemiologic Methods
238:British Merchant Navy
198:Boston, Massachusetts
185:MacMahon was born in
110:Charles S. Mott Prize
79:Boston, Massachusetts
522:University of Athens
177:and risk of cancer.
347:Preventive Medicine
1004:J Natl Cancer Inst
943:J Natl Cancer Inst
832:. 11 November 2013
454:Hodgkin's lymphoma
61:Sheffield, England
751:, 9 December 2007
504:(1987) , and the
498:Donald Reid Medal
438:pancreatic cancer
224:in 1946, and the
148:
147:
118:Scientific career
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855:(21 August 2007)
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820:
813:
788:
778:(4 January 2008)
771:
754:
749:The Boston Globe
744:
731:
721:
532:Key publications
466:pyloric stenosis
397:consumption and
370:, in particular
368:chronic diseases
265:pyloric stenosis
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28:
27:
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1136:(23 March 1981)
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1105:Wayback Machine
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785:Wayback Machine
772:
757:
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565:
563:Research papers
539:
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490:John Snow Award
478:
462:
415:passive smoking
407:
364:
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301:Duncan W. Clark
285:
257:Reginald Record
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167:passive smoking
87:Alma mater
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71:5 December 2007
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430:Walter Willett
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332:Walter Willett
284:
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249:Thomas McKeown
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155:epidemiologist
151:Brian MacMahon
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402:
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181:Personal life
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338:
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230:locum doctor
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191:British Army
184:
150:
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134:Institutions
128:Epidemiology
117:
73:(2007-12-05)
25:
1202:2007 deaths
1197:1923 births
728:15: 504–508
419:lung cancer
253:Ronald Lowe
171:lung cancer
1191:Categories
680:References
556:0316542598
234:Birmingham
53:1923-08-23
1052:27: 1–4 (
980:full text
673:full text
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391:lactation
387:menopause
187:Sheffield
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1101:Archived
983:Archived
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578:13275979
524:and the
450:Newsweek
383:menarche
357:Research
305:leukemia
297:Brooklyn
269:Master's
226:MB BChir
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140:, U.S.
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537:Books
417:with
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426:diet
399:diet
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330:and
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
