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Lifetime
Activity Cuts Breast Cancer Risk
NEW
YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who have remained active throughout
their lives may have a lower breast cancer risk than their habitually
sedentary counterparts, study findings suggest.
The investigators
found that postmenopausal women who reported the highest levels
of activity were 30% less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer
than women with the lowest activity levels were. Household and
occupational activity--rather than recreational activities such
as sports or exercise class--appeared to provide the most protection,
the researchers report.
Physical activity
was found to provide the greatest benefits for active postmenopausal
women who also did not smoke, drink alcohol and had never given
birth, the report indicates.
``This study
provides evidence that lifetime total activity reduces risk of
postmenopausal breast cancer,'' according to researchers led by
Dr. C. M. Friedenreich from the Alberta Cancer Board in Canada.
The team compared
more than 1,200 breast cancer patients with a similar number of
women without breast cancer. Women were interviewed about their
menstrual and reproductive histories, use of hormones, family
breast cancer history, physical activity patterns, diets and other
health factors.
Their study,
published in the August 15th issue of the American Journal of
Epidemiology, found no associations between physical activity
and risk of breast cancer for premenopausal women.
The findings
add to a growing body of evidence linking physical activity to
a reduced risk of breast cancer. Although sports and recreational
activity did not have a strong effect in this study, a number
of previous studies have linked recreational exercise with a lower
breast cancer risk.
However, exactly
how activity may cut a woman's risk is not yet clear. Researchers
have speculated that factors such as reduced body fat or enhanced
immunity may explain the connection.
``Numerous
questions remain regarding the...role of physical activity and
breast cancer that need to be addressed in studies that examine
more specifically the underlying hypothesized biologic mechanism,''
the study authors conclude.
SOURCE:
American Journal of Epidemiology 2001;154:336-347.
Reference
Source 89
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