Breast Cancer| Exercise Daily – Any Intensity Level – May Lower Risk

Breast cancer prevention programs are most effective when patients understand the value of the things they can control and the things that they cannot. According to recent online article exercise  topped the list for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and stable weight; and is something that we can control. Several studies have proven an association between exercise and reducing the risk of breast cancer. Because of this, the American Cancer Society and many medical professionals recommend that women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer exercise regularly— which includes 4-5 hours per week at a moderate level of intensity.

Breast Cancer Risks and Exercise

A recent study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill discovered that women who got approximately 2 hours of exercise daily, regardless of the intensity were approximately 30% less likely to develop breast cancer than those who did not exercise that much. It is important to recognize that women gained a substantial amount of weight following menopause it appeared to cancel the benefits gained by exercise. The study was published in the Journal of Cancer online in June. Exercising during the reproductive years which included from birth of the first child up until menopause seem to derive the most benefit. Exercising regularly after menopause also help to reduce the risk, it just was not as significant. Women who are busy with household chores, family matters etc. could view two hours a day of exercise as an impossible task. It is important to remember that it was consistency that mattered not the intensity level that helped reduce the breast cancer risk.

Breast Cancer and Women’s Health

Dr. Seify encourages his patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer to include exercise programs as recommended by their treating physicians. When reviewing breast cancer reconstruction options with each patient Dr. Seify is careful to review the options available along with the anticipated recovery involved. As breast cancer reconstruction continues to evolve, and better alternatives are made available patients can expect to see more realistic and better tolerated results. Dr. Seify discusses the range of options available which  could include everything from traditional breast reconstruction to fat transfer breast reconstruction .