Many people probably know that carrying
too much weight around isn’t good for your heart, but did you know
that it’s a major risk factor for women's
cancer as well? Obesity is the culprit behind some 14% of cancer
deaths, and more than 3% of new cancer cases, every year.
“Our No. 1 recommendation for cancer
risk reduction is to stay as lean as possible within a healthy weight
range. This may be one of the most important ways to prevent cancer,”
says Alice Bender, MS, RD, manager of nutrition communications at the
American Institute for Cancer Research
(AICR).
In November 2007, the AICR put out an
expert report summarizing how food, nutrition, and physical activity
affect cancer and cancer prevention. Being overweight, according to
the AICR report, is linked to a wide variety of cancers, including
esophageal, pancreatic, gall bladder, breast, endometrial, and kidney
cancers.
Fatty tissue in women who are
overweight produces additional estrogen,
a sex hormone which can increase the risk of uterine
cancer. This risk increases with an increase in body
mass index (BMI; the ratio of a person's weight and height).
About 40% of cases are linked to obesity.
It seems fair and just that
conscientiously working out should confer disease-fighting benefits,
especially against women's
cancer, and an accreting body of research suggests that under
certain conditions and against certain forms of cancer, fitness may
be remarkably protective. A major review article published in
February on the Web site of the British
Journal of Cancer synthesized the results of more than two
decades’ worth of studies and concluded that the most active people
are 24 percent less likely to develop uterine
cancer than sedentary people are, regardless of their diets,
smoking habits or body weight. Another study, this one presented in
May at the annual meeting of the American
College of Sports Medicine reported that women over age 30 who
defined themselves as “highly competitive” by disposition and who
exercised more than the average for the group had much less risk of
developing breast cancer
than women who worked out for less than 60 minutes per week.
Prevention
Different factors cause different types of cancer. Researchers continue to look into what factors cause this type of cancer. Although there is no proven way to completely prevent this disease, you may be able to lower your risk. Talk with your doctor for more information about your personal risk of cancer.
Research has shown that certain factors can lower the risk of uterine cancer:
- Taking birth
control pills, especially over a long period of time
- Considering the risk of uterine cancer before starting HRT,
especially estrogen replacement therapy alone. Using a combination
approach to HRT may help lessen risk.
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- If diabetic, maintaining good disease control such as
regularly monitoring blood
glucose levels
Along with a healthy diet and lifestyle choices, regular exercise
is one of the best things women can do to keep the risk of a
first-time women's
cancer or recurrence as low as it can be. This study adds to
other research suggesting that regular exercise reduces breast
cancer risk. Regular exercise also helps keep your physical and
mental health in top shape. No matter how old you are, it’s never
too late or too soon to get moving. And once you do start, keep at
it!
Dr Vijayavel is a top gynae oncology surgeon in Malaysia.
