How to avoid breast cancer – the most definitive survival guide yet

Published on Monday 31 August 2009 22:02

EXPERTS have gathered the strongest evidence yet that a woman's lifestyle is linked to her risk of developing breast cancer.

The largest ever review of research into the issue has concluded women should limit alcohol, take exercise and maintain a healthy weight.

More than four out of ten cases of breast cancer could be prevented if women adopted healthier lifestyles, experts have predicted.

Breastfeeding babies is also an important factor in helping cut the chance of developing the disease, which kills about 12,000 women in the UK each year.

The latest "review of reviews", by experts at the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), is an update on its cancer prevention report published in 2007, which looked at many different types of the disease. That report drew on 873 breast cancer studies, but now scientists at Imperial College London have added a further 81 carried out in the past few years.

These latest studies confirm the link between lifestyle and breast cancer.

Professor Martin Wiseman, medical and scientific adviser for the WCRF, said the new report "represents the clearest picture we have ever had" on how lifestyle affects a woman's risk of breast cancer.

He added: "This means we are now more sure than ever that by limiting the alcohol they drink, maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active, women can make a significant difference to their risk.

"We estimate over 40 per cent of breast cancer cases in the UK could be prevented just by making these relatively straightforward changes."

The charity recommends that both men and women should aim to be as lean as possible without becoming underweight. A healthy body mass index (BMI) is between 18 and 25, and the WCRF encourages people to remain close to the lower end of the scale.

The charity also recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise a day and, if alcohol is drunk at all, it is limited to two drinks a day for a man and one for a woman.

The latest study on breast cancer is part of a "continuous update project" run by the WCRF.

The goal is continuously to update the findings of the WCRF's 2007 report so that experts draw on the latest research when advising people on cancer prevention.

Bowel cancer and prostate cancer will now be studied, with updates on them available next year.

Cancer charities have welcomed the recommendations following the WCRF's latest report.

Audrey Birt, the director of Breakthrough Breast Cancer Scotland, said: "We've known for some time that maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and reducing alcohol intake can help lower breast cancer risk. It's good news that studies continue to confirm these simple steps.

"Although it's not yet possible to prevent breast cancer, it's important for women to be aware of the things they can do to reduce their chances of developing breast cancer."

Arlene Wilkie, director of research and policy at Breast Cancer Campaign, said: "This review provides further evidence that maintaining a healthy weight throughout life, along with regular physical exercise, will reduce the risk of many health problems, including breast cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and other types of cancer.

"Although age is the biggest single risk factor – 80 per cent of breast cancers are diagnosed in women over the age of 50 – being overweight after the menopause increases your risk further."