Walk To Beat Breast Cancer

WOMEN with breast cancer who walk at least an hour a week have a better chance of beating the disease than those who don't exercise at all, researchers said. "It is well established that exercise plays an important role in preventing many diseases, including breast cancer," said lead researcher Michelle Holmes of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

"However, we found that women who are physically active after breast cancer diagnosis may lower their risk of death from breast cancer and cancer recurrence." Even walking an hour a week lifted survival rates but exercising more than five hours a week did not confer any added survival benefit. The study noted discouraging estimates that women with breast cancer tend to decrease their levels of physical activity by two hours a week and those who are obese reduce activity even more.

Obesity and breast cancer:

•Obesity affects both the development and progression of breast cancer.
•Post menopausal cancer risk is higher among obese women.
•Breast cancer mortality is higher in obese women.
•Body weight measured at different times during life also causes breast cancer.