The risk of getting breast cancer is a constant sword hanging over a woman's head and so today we thought, why not address it? In a recent research that we went through, scientists have found that postmenopausal women who lose weight may have a significantly reduced chance of developing breast cancer. Researchers even stated that ‘relatively modest’ weight loss has a considerable effect on the risk of the disease.
Four out of five cases of breast cancer occur after the menopause and reports also suggested that women could significantly cut their risk if they follow a healthy lifestyle. Talking about the research, Rowan Chlebowski, research professor in the Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research at City of Hope in Duarte, California, said, “Breast cancer is among the leading types of cancer and causes of death in American women. Obesity rates have been increasing in the United States. We wanted to determine if there was a link between obesity and breast cancer risk.” According to a study, compared with women with stable weight, those who had a 5 percent or more decrease in weight were 12 percent less likely to develop breast cancer.
Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive at Breast Cancer Now, noted, “This important study provides further, clear evidence that postmenopausal women can significantly reduce their risk of breast cancer by taking steps to lose weight. Being overweight after the menopause does increase your risk of the disease, likely because fat tissue becomes a women’s main source of oestrogen after the menopause.”
In her concluding remarks, Morgan said, “With breast cancer incidence continuing to rise, we need to do much more to enable women and men of all ages to reduce their risk. It’s so important to remember that we can all reduce our breast cancer risk through various lifestyle factors, including keeping physically active, maintaining a healthy weight throughout life and lowering our alcohol intake.”
Women, we hope you've taken something away from this.