Women who maintain consistently high activity levels throughout their lives have a lower risk of developing breast cancer than their inactive counterparts, according to the results of a study recently published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Think of the Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States, with approximately 200,000 cases diagnosed each year. Although several risk factors have been associated with breast cancer, the cause of the majority of cases of breast cancer remains unknown. As researchers continue to explore the causes of this disease, they also uncover factors that may prevent the development of breast cancer. Often, lifestyle changes and choices can help reduce the risk of cancer.
The Shanghai Breast Cancer Study involved 1,459 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,556 age-matched controls in urban Shanghai. Researchers conducted interviews to obtain information regarding physical activity from exercise, household work, transportation, and occupation. The researchers used the information from the interviews to assess physical activity for adolescence (13-19 years) and adulthood (past 10 years).
The results indicated that physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer. Women who exercised only during adolescence had a slightly reduced risk of breast cancer, while women who exercised only during adulthood had a further reduced risk of breast cancer. However, the most significant reduction in breast cancer risk occurred in women who exercised during both adolescence and adulthood. In addition, lifetime occupational activity was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. The risk decreased as the number of years of physical activity increased.
The researchers concluded that women who are consistently active throughout their lives reduce their risk of breast cancer. In addition, they suggest that women may reduce their risk of breast cancer by increasing their activity levels during adulthood.
