Diet and Exercise Can Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk

Written by guest blogger Natasha Raju


I will be the first one to admit that sitting on the couch and watching my favorite episode of Lost with a bag of popcorn would be my perfect idea of R&R. The last thing on my mind is hitting the gym after a hard day of work.

According to a recent article, women who change their lifestyle by eating less and exercising more could change their outcome of getting breast cancer. There has been a progress in early detection with mammogram screening and treatments that have slowed down breast cancer but “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.

He estimated that 25% - 30% of breast cancer cases might be avoided if women made the conscious effort to be healthy by changing their eating habits and exercise regime. In many cancer cases, there has been repeated health advice in areas such as diet, smoking, and sun exposure that could play a role in being diagnosed with cancer.

Quick statistics:
- Chance of getting breast cancer is 1 in 8 in women
- Obese women are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than a normal-weight woman (according to a British study in 2006)

Of course, the three major risk factors in breast cancer, gender, family history, and age, are beyond anyone’s control. However, a healthier lifestyle isn’t.

The American Cancer Society has important recommendations:
- 45 to 60 minutes of physical activity for 4-5 days a week.
- Drinking less alcohol. Having more than two drinks a day can increase the risk by 4 -10%.
- There have been studies on hormone-replacement therapy being linked to cancer.
- Watch your nutrition and find a nutritionist to discover a healthy eating regime.

Carlo La Vecchia is quoted saying, "It's hard to lose weight, but it's not impossible. The potential benefit of preventing cancer is worth it."

And don’t forget, for ways to support breast cancer awareness through shopping, browse products on Uptown Liz.