Lifestyle Changes Could Cut Breast Cancer by10%

Less obesity, HRT and alcohol, more exercise
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 30, 2007 5:45 PM CDT
Lifestyle Changes Could Cut Breast Cancer by10%
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., waves on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 26, 2007, during the Susan G. Komen for the Cure "Close the Gap" rally to launch an effort to close gaps in breast cancer treatment. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)   (Associated Press)

A tenth of all breast cancer cases could be prevented by 2024, a UK cancer research foundation projects, if women made simple lifestyle changes beginning now: reducing the duration of hormone replacement therapy, avoiding obesity, drinking less, getting more exercise, and breastfeeding longer.

Cancer Research UK says rates of the disease are climbing—12% over the past 10 years—and they're projected to keep going up if no changes are made. They'd like to see fewer women on HRT, obesity reduced to the 1980 rate (8% rather than the current 23%), and women drinking no more than two units of alcohol a day, exercising  for 30 minutes five times a week, and breastfeeding for 6 months. (More breast cancer stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X