Study: Moderate exercise lowers breast cancer risk
Source: Agencies |
June 27, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WOMEN who exercise moderately may be less likely than their inactive peers to develop breast cancer after menopause, according to a United States study.
Researchers, whose study was published in the journal Cancer, found that of more than 3,000 women with and without breast cancer, those who'd exercised during their childbearing years were less likely to develop the cancer after menopause.
The same was true when women took up exercise after menopause, said the group, led by Lauren McCullough at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
"What we can say is, exercise is good for you," McCullough said. "It's never too late to start. Our evidence suggests that if you start after menopause, you can still help yourself."
The findings add to a number of past studies tying regular exercise to lower breast cancer rates. But all the studies only point to a correlation and don't prove that exercise itself is what reduces women's breast cancer risk.
There are reasons, though, to believe it can, said McCullough. One possible way is indirectly, by cutting body fat, she said. Excess body fat is related to higher levels of certain hormones, including estrogen, as well as substances known as growth factors which can feed tumor development.
In the study, which included 1,500 women with breast cancer and 1,550 cancer-free women of the same age, all were interviewed about their lifetime exercise habits.
Researchers, whose study was published in the journal Cancer, found that of more than 3,000 women with and without breast cancer, those who'd exercised during their childbearing years were less likely to develop the cancer after menopause.
The same was true when women took up exercise after menopause, said the group, led by Lauren McCullough at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
"What we can say is, exercise is good for you," McCullough said. "It's never too late to start. Our evidence suggests that if you start after menopause, you can still help yourself."
The findings add to a number of past studies tying regular exercise to lower breast cancer rates. But all the studies only point to a correlation and don't prove that exercise itself is what reduces women's breast cancer risk.
There are reasons, though, to believe it can, said McCullough. One possible way is indirectly, by cutting body fat, she said. Excess body fat is related to higher levels of certain hormones, including estrogen, as well as substances known as growth factors which can feed tumor development.
In the study, which included 1,500 women with breast cancer and 1,550 cancer-free women of the same age, all were interviewed about their lifetime exercise habits.
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