A Third Of Breast Cancer Cases Can Be Prevented By Lifestyle Changes

A third of breast cancer cases can be prevented by lifestyle changes

One in three cases of breast cancer can be prevented by changing habits and lifestyle. To do this, you need to control weight, maintain physical activity, monitor nutrition, and do not abuse alcohol. The report on disease prevention was presented at the annual conference of the North American Society for the Study of Menopause in Chicago.

Photo: publicdomainpictures.net /

One in three cases of breast cancer can be prevented by changing habits and lifestyle. To do this, you need to control weight, maintain physical activity, monitor nutrition, and do not abuse alcohol. The report on disease prevention was presented at the annual conference of the North American Society for the Study of Menopause in Chicago. The press release of the event was posted on the MedicalXpress website.

Breast cancer remains the most common malignant tumor among women. In 2017, out of 335,000 cases of cancer diagnosed in women in Russia, 70,000 accounted for this disease.

Previously, many studies have shown the importance of lifestyle changes in the prevention of breast cancer. In 2018, the World Cancer Research Foundation and the American Institute for Cancer Research updated treatment guidelines for the condition based on whether a woman is menopausal. Juliana Kling of the Mayo Clinic in Arizona spoke about these changes at the conference.

Important points of the new recommendations:

After menopause, the risk of breast cancer is one and a half to two times higher with obesity.

• An increase in body fat contributes to the development of cancer as a result of increased levels of the hormones insulin and estradiol, as well as due to the development of inflammation.
• By itself, physical activity can prevent one in eight cases of breast cancer.
• Alcohol is a carcinogen that is associated with 6.4% of breast cancers.
• Any amount of alcohol increases the risk of cancer, and this effect becomes more pronounced as the dose is increased.
• Eating non-starchy vegetables lowers the risk of breast cancer.

Dr. Juliana Kling said at the conference:

"Given the prevalence of breast cancer and the accumulated evidence that prevention is the most effective strategy for reducing the risk of disease, patient education based on the American Institute for Cancer Research should become a routine part of the visit to the doctor."

“This presentation should provide important guidelines for clinicians who, while helping women move towards healthier lifestyles to reduce breast cancer risk,” commented Stephanie Faubion, medical director of the North American Menopause Society.