Breast Cancer Risk Seems To Be Reduced With Exercise

Breast cancer risk can be within our control. Recent reports have shown that breast cancer risk can be reduced with moderate exercise. A local article examined the study a little closer. According to the article a recent study from researchers at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health extracted the benefits of exercise in preventing breast cancer, with the goal of describing the amount of exercise needed and at what point in a woman’s life would it proved to be beneficial.  The report has encouraging news for women: Even a moderate amount of physical activity — during the years of childbearing or post menopause — may reduce breast cancer risk.

Breast Cancer Risk Managed

But gaining weight in the latter part of a woman’s life may reduce or eliminate some of the benefit, the team cautioned.  Study coauthor Lauren McCullough, a doctoral candidate who studies cancer epidemiology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, reported the information concerning the results, which were published online Monday in the journal Cancer. She stated that they were concentrating on activities that women do individually that were not work-related.  One of the discoveries from the study was that exercise at most any intensity level during the childbearing years and after menopause produced the greatest benefit for reducing breast cancer risk. For both of those time periods researchers discovered approximately saw a 30% risk reduction for women (this equated to about 10-19 hours of activity per week).

Breast Cancer Risk and Exercise are Associated

The study also found that physical activity as it related to BMI was associated with the reduction in the risk for breast cancer. Women who were obese, but exercised with a BMI over 30 did not have a reduced risk, however they had a risk that was basically flat.  Their risk was largely equal to a normal weight woman who didn’t exercise at all. Women who were obese and were not active proved to be at an increased risk.  Dr. Seify encourages his patients to value the benefits of exercise at every level. The large majority of women who consult with Dr. Seify for cosmetic surgery procedures including liposuction, breast augmentation, and abdominoplasty are of childbearing age and should be reminded that exercise not only helps to reduce the risk of serious diseases such as breast cancer, but it will also help patients to achieve and maintain better long-term results. All cosmetic plastic surgery is subject to change for patients who gain or lose significant amounts of weight. This is why it is important to protect the patient investment and maintain the best possible long-term results by making a commitment to be diligent concerning diet, exercise, maintaining a stable weight, and a healthy lifestyle.