Risk Of Breast Cancer And Exercise

Reducing your risk of breast cancer

A review of published research on breast cancer and physical activity shows that exercise can reduce breast cancer risks.

Researchers found an average of 25-30% decrease of breast cancer for some groups of women with increased physical activity in 76% of the studies.

The physical activity was rated according to intensity, type of activity, and timing over the woman's lifetime.

The strongest risk reduction was seen for

• recreational activity

• lifetime activity

• later in life activity

• and vigorous activity.

The groups of women who benefited the most from these activities included

• post-menopausal women

• non-white racial groups

• women with a normal BMI (body mass index)

• women with hormone receptor negative tumors

• women with no family history of breast cancer

• and women who had given birth to children.

(Friedenreich CM, Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Risk: Impact of Timing, Type and Dose of Activity and Population Sub-group Effects, British Journal of Sports Medicine, May 2008).

More information on improving the breast cancer survival rate, and additional benefits from exercise.