THE RISK of developing breast cancer can be greatly reduced through physical exercise and maintaining a normal weight.
Research shows that as much as 25 to 33 per cent of breast cancer cases are linked to being physically inactive and being overweight.
Unfortunately a lot of women do not know this.
With breast cancer claiming the lives of more European women than any other cancer, European Breast Cancer Coalition, Europa Donna, has undertaken the responsibility to raise awareness on this issue.
“The cancer burden is going to increase and it is important that we teach women and girls the importance of leading healthy lifestyles. As Europa Donna, this is also our responsibility because it can help prevent breast cancer and it will ultimately save health systems money,” said Susan Knox, Europa Donna’s Executive Director.
Almost 132,000 women died from breast cancer in 2006, and every year 430,000 European women are diagnosed with the disease.
But Knox said research conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer had found that “without a doubt physical exercise is especially important in preventing breast cancer”.
Avoiding weight gain, especially after menopause, was also crucial, she said.
She said it was important for women to limit their weight gain in adult life and maintain a BMI (body mass index) of 18.5-24.9.
“Women tend to gain weight in the middle stage of their lives. This has proved very deleterious. They should have a BMI under 25 and they shouldn’t gain additional weight after menopause,” she said.
Postmenopausal obesity is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, and overweight women have more abnormal mammogram readings than women of normal weight. This is of particular concern since statistics show that 60 per cent of European women aged 55-64, and 37 per cent aged 35-44 are overweight or obese.
Knox accepted it was harder for older women to keep the weight off, but suggested the need for lifestyle changes such as increasing physical exercise and limiting calorific intake.
In fact, exercise alone has been proved to lower breast cancer incidence, irrespective of the issue of exercising for weight control, she said.
“Exercising 30 to 60 minutes at least five times a week is in itself a preventative.”
Eating nutritionally was also important, although the exact specifics of diet and its impact on cancer and breast cancer have not yet been proved, she said.
Nevertheless, Europa Donna felt it was safe to recommend eating a well-balanced diet with a fat intake not exceeding 30 per cent. Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and limiting red meat intake was also beneficial, said Knox.
“Physical exercise and weight gain has been proved though, as has only drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, which for women is one glass of wine a day,” she added.
“Many women take their health for granted and do not realise that those extra kilos or that extra glass of wine can affect their breast health in the long term,” she said.
Given the enormous influence of lifestyle factors on the breast health of European women, Europa Donna has declared October 15, 2008 the first annual Breast Health Day, she said. The launch will involve a media event in Milan, Italy, featuring renowned international and European figures, and representatives from the Coalition’s 41 member countries. The aim is for women and girls of all ages to have access to breast heath information and understand the influence that lifestyle choices can have on their future health.
“We expect to hold this day every year to raise awareness especially about prevention and early detection. Many don’t know how important mammography screening is in terms of detecting breast cancer early and leading a long and healthy life afterwards.” Early detection also meant better chances of having breast-conserving surgery as opposed to a mastectomy, she said.
Knox said mammography was widely accepted as the best method to detect breast cancer early. Studies show that women aged 50-69 who attend mammography screening reduce their risk of dying of breast cancer by about 35 per cent, she added.
“Mammography screening should be conducted according to the recommendations in the European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis. When it is set up and conducted properly, it saves women’s lives,” she said.
Europa Donna is an independent, non-profit organisation whose members are affiliated groups from countries throughout Europe. The European Breast Cancer Coalition works to raise public awareness of breast cancer and to mobilise the support of European women in pressing for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment and care and increased funding for research.
Obesity has detrimental effects on breast cancer survival
TWO studies presented at the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference in Germany this year confirmed that obesity has negative impact on breast cancer. The BIG 2-98 trial, presented by Dr De Azambuja of the Jules Bordet Institute in Brussels has shown that women with a BMI over 30 had poorer outcomes for disease-free survival and overall survival. The effect of obesity on overall survival was also worse in women under age 50. Another Swiss study presented by Dr Elisabetta Rapitit of the Geneva Cancer Registry revealed that obese women were more likely to present with breast cancer in advanced stages.
Mammography screening up to age 75 increases survival
DATA from the Dutch breast cancer screening programme indicate that screening in women up to age 75 has a high cancer detection rate, a high participation rate, lower disease stage at detection, a decreased incidence of mastectomies and is cost-effective, according to Dr Jacques Fracheboud of the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam. Since the Dutch screening programme extended its upper age limit to 75 in 1998, the breast cancer mortality rate has dropped almost 30 per cent in women aged 75-79, the group in whom a survival benefit would be detectable. The study included more than 850,000 70-75-year-olds who participated in the screening programme from 1998-2006. Since tumour growth slows with age, and the tumour detection rate gradually increases with ages, Fracheboud suggested that 75 was the appropriate upper age limit for screening.
Pink silhouette walk today
EUROPA Donna Cyprus’ Pink Silhouette Walk will be held in Larnaca at 5pm today.
Women will gather at the mediaeval castle and walk towards Europe Square holding 615 pink silhouettes symbolising the women and men who face breast cancer in Cyprus every year. A photographic and ceramic exhibition will be on site and the street will be lit up in pink, as will the town hall.
A free bus service from all towns is available. For more information contact ED Cyprus on 22-490849.
The walk is being held as part of the Cyprus Breast Cancer Forum’s International Breast Cancer Month activities.
