Weight Loss, Diet, and the Risk of Breast Cancer

There is not yet a perfect way to predict the risk of breast cancer in an individual. However, there are some risk factors which may predispose someone to get breast cancer. Knowing these risk factors can help someone take the appropriate steps to get proper medical assessment and treatment. Additionally, there is the good news that some of these risk factors may be controllable.

Let's start by taking a look at risk factors for breast cancer in general.

Gender: While it may seem to many that breast cancer is strictly a "woman's problem", this is not so. Men can get breast cancer as well. My friend, Ken, who died two years agoof cancer, is an example. Additionally, some medications can increase the risk of breast cancer in men. However, the largest segment of society afflicted with this disease is the female portion of the population. Statistically, women are more likely to get breast cancer than men.

Heredity: Unfortunately, if there is a family history of breast cancer in your family, you are at a higher risk.

Age: Another unfortunate fact is that as you age, your risk for breast cancer increases.

Children and Pregnancy: Women who have borne no children or who had their first pregnancy after 30 have a slightly higher risk.

Alcohol: The risk seems to increase with an increase in alcohol consumption

Weight: Being overweight can increase your risk.

Actually, those are just a few of the factors influencing your risk for breast cancer, and there are many others ranging from antiperspirant use to environmental pollution, tobacco smoke, and breast implants just to name a few. For a more complete run down, you might want to visit the American Cancer Society's web site at http://www.cancer.org/ . However, I would like to discuss the relationship of weight loss, exercise, and risk of breast cancer.

While you are at the mercy of so many things; heredity, environmental pollution, and aging, for example, you have control over two major areas. You can control your weight and you can increase your health, and decrease your risk for breast cancer, by exercise and nutrition.

NUTRITION:

While simply "eating better" is good for almost anything that ails you, many Americans (and others around the world), male and female alike, tend to consume more fat than is necessary or is good for health. While direct links between dietary fat and risk of breast cancer is still under study, consumption of too much fat in the diet can contribute to obesity, and obesity CAN be identified as a definite risk factor.

WEIGHT LOSS:

Simply, estrogen is made in fat, and higher estrogen levels increase risk of breast cancer. Healthy weight loss is a good way to help decrease this risk, especially since any healthy weight loss program will probably include exercise.

EXERCISE:

Exercise has a lot going for it before you even get to the part about fat. Exercise can help boost the immune system which can help the body in its defense against a lot of things, including cancer. Exercise can help modulate the effects of many aspects of life, including those of stress and environmental pollution. In a situation where cancer exists, it can help prevent weight gain, ease treatment side effects, and help enhance the mood of the afflicted person, and there are many studies indicating a possible link between a good attitude, good health, and a good recovery. Of course, a weight loss regimen, including a regular exercise program, can help control estrogen producing fat.

These are just a few points touching on some level of personal control over a frightening disease. Nobody can change their parents or turn back the clock, but anybody can take control of what they eat, get some physical activity, stop smoking, and control alcohol intake. As humans, we may be at the mercy of a lot of different dangers and at risk for many conditions and illnesses, but a sensible lifestyle can often be a weapon in the battle against these sorts of enemies.

Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com

Donovan Baldwin is a Dallas area writer. A University Of West Florida alumnus (1973) with a BA in accounting, he is a member of Mensa and has held several managerial positions. After retiring from the U. S. Army in 1995, he became interested in internet marketing and developed various online businesses. He has been writing poetry, articles, and essays for over 40 years, and now frequently publishes articles on his own websites and for use by other webmasters. He has a blog on the subject of weight loss and health at nodiet4me.blogspot.com , and has a website at nodiet4me.com which includes several articles related to diet, weight loss, and health.

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