06 Jun Lifestyle Changes That May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
Maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle can also improve your general health and decrease your risk of multiple life-threatening diseases – including breast cancer. According to researchers in a recent study published by JAMA Oncology, women who carry genes linked to breast cancer can significantly lower their risk of the disease by simply maintaining a healthy lifestyle including four key components: managing a low BMI, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding smoking and hormone therapy post-menopause. Researchers collected data from the records of women linked to various breast cancer genes to create a model to predict the absolute risk of breast cancer, mainly in white women in the US.
They also considered non-modifiable factors: family history, reproductive health, and lifestyle factors, along with anthropometric factors and SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in the women used to conduct the study.
They found that 11.3 percent of white women in their 30s are at absolute risk of developing breast cancer by age 80. But by maintaining the four modifiable variables mentioned above, an amazing 30 percent of breast cancer cases could be avoided.
The study also observed that women in the highest statistic of breast cancer susceptibility who maintained a low BMI and did not drink, smoke, or use post-menopausal hormone therapy reduced their risk to levels similar to an average woman in the population.
So if you’re seeking ways to reduce your risk of breast cancer, the bottom line is that there is value in a healthy lifestyle in addition to your annual breast self-examinations. And whether you are at high risk of breast cancer or not, there is no denying the benefits of embracing healthy habits to live your most prosperous life.
Read the paper here: JAMA Oncology