Fight Breast Cancer With Exercise

Ivanhoe Newswire
Tuesday, December 12, 2006; 12:00 AM

By Lucy Williams, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Want to avoid breast cancer? You may want to hit the gym. New research reveals high levels of physical activity could help postmenopausal women reduce their risk for breast cancer.

"Exercise may lower a woman's risk for breast cancer by favorably changing certain hormones associated with breast cancer cell growth," Melinda Irwin, M.D., of Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., told Ivanhoe. "Exercise has shown to decrease estrogen and insulin, hormones known to be associated with breast cancer."

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn., reviewed activity levels of postmenopausal women who participated in the Iowa Women's Health Study. Participants completed a series of questionnaires over several years and were categorized based on the following levels of physical activity:

High Physical Activity -- Vigorous activity (jogging, swimming or racket sports) two or more times per week or moderate activity (bowling, golf, gardening or walking) four or more times per week

Medium Physical Activity -- Vigorous activity once a week or moderate activity one to four times per week

Low Physical Activity -- No vigorous or moderate activities

Of the 36,363 included in the analysis, 2,548 reported incidence of breast cancer between 1987 and 2003. Women with high physical activity levels were found to have a 14-percent-lower risk of developing breast cancer than those with low physical activity levels. Researchers say physical activity could prevent cancer by reducing body fat, which is a source of estrogen in postmenopausal women.

"Exercise decreases or maintains body fat," Dr. Irwin said. "Higher levels of body fat are associated with breast cancer risk."

Women recovering from breast cancer may also want to boost their levels of physical activity to prevent cancer recurrence.

"Exercise is associated with improved quality of life among breast cancer survivors. It is associated with decreased nausea, fatigue, depression, and anxiety," Dr. Irwin said. "Physical activity may also improve survival by favorably changing hormones and body fat."

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with Melinda Irwin, Ph.D., M.P.H., Yale University School of Medicine; Archives of Internal Medicine 2006;166:2478-2483