Up to a third of breast cancers could be avoided
Recent research suggests “up to a third of breast cancer cases in Western countries could be avoided if women ate less and exercised more.” (M. Cheng, AP Barcelona, 3/25). As a medical malpractice attorney, I am intrigued by this new information.
Although technological advances have allowed “better treatments, early diagnosis and mammogram screenings” to dramatically curtail breast cancer, experts are now shifting focus to prevention measures. "What can be achieved with screening has been achieved. We can't do much more," Carlo La Vecchia, head of epidemiology at the University of Milan, said in an interview. "It's time to move on to other things. La Vecchia spoke Thursday at a European breast cancer conference in Barcelona. He cited figures from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which estimates that 25 to 30 percent of breast cancer cases could be avoided if women were thinner and exercised more.”
His opinions are consistent with recent health guidelines that advise women to make changes in their lifestyle areas such as smoking, diet, exercise and sun exposure. Considering breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, lifestyle changes are a small price to pay for overall better health and cancer prevention. A woman's lifetime chance of getting breast cancer is about “one in eight. Obese women are up to 60 percent more likely to develop any cancer than normal-weight women. Even in slim women, experts believe exercise can help reduce the cancer risk by converting more fat into muscle.”
The cancer society recommends 45 to 60 minutes of physical activity five or more days a week to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Although it is difficult to make major life style changes, the potential benefits make it well worth it.
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