Cancer Myths: Lifestyle Choices Are Enough to Prevent Breast Cancer
Myth: If I maintain a healthy weight, eat a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly, I won’t get breast cancer.
Fact: While these components of a healthy lifestyle can impact breast cancer risk, “there are several other factors that can contribute to the development of breast cancer,” says Sagar Sardesai, MBBS, breast cancer oncologist and co-director of the OSUCCC – James’ high-risk breast cancer program.
Other important factors that contribute to an increased risk include a strong family history of breast cancer and/or a known genetic predisposition, such as germline BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutations that greatly increase women’s chances of developing the disease.
“While there are several known risk elements, almost none have shown a direct causal effect,” Sardesai says. “Some breast cancer patients have no apparent risk factors, and we don’t know the reason behind their cancer diagnoses. We do know that excess body weight is associated with an increased risk of post-menopausal breast cancer, and for women who have been diagnosed and treated for breast cancer, excess body weight or weight gain (during or after treatment) increases the risk of recurrence and mortality.”
Ongoing research will help address underlying mechanisms and appropriate interventions to mitigate risk in this population.
Sardesai has heard this myth from multiple patients and believes one of the reasons some women think it’s true is because of the known association of obesity and the lack of physical activity with cancer risk.
“There is hope that by doing things right, one may not need to go through screening mammograms or cancer treatments, which can be discomforting,” he says. “Adopting a healthier lifestyle has several health benefits, including a plausible lowering in risk of getting breast cancer; however it does not obviate the risk altogether. Most women would benefit from a comprehensive approach that includes lifestyle modification, genetic counseling and early detection with appropriate risk screening.”