How lifestyle can impact breast cancer prevention

Early detection is indeed crucial to the growing prevalence of breast cancer in young women. However, beyond screening, it’s critical to address the role lifestyle factors play in reducing cancer risk.

Genetic predisposition is a key factor in breast cancer, and while we can’t change our genes, we can control our lifestyle. For example, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and eating a balanced diet all influence metabolic health, which can affect cancer development. This is particularly important for women with BRCA mutations and those in communities where access to healthcare is limited, leading to delayed diagnoses and worse outcomes.

Metabolic health is a vital aspect of cancer prevention. Studies show that metabolic imbalances such as obesity, high glucose levels, and insulin resistance can create conditions that enable cancer to thrive. This is especially true for breast cancer, where these factors are associated with poorer outcomes.

In addition to diet, maintaining a healthy gut is essential in cancer prevention. A diverse, well-functioning gut microbiome supports immune health and can enhance the body’s ability to fight off disease. Studies have even shown that certain gut bacteria can improve the effectiveness of cancer therapies, such as immunotherapy.

So, assessing your diet and daily movement are good places to start when it comes to lifestyle prevention methods. Monitoring sugar intake, focusing on whole, fiber-rich foods, including fruits and vegetables, and incorporating daily movement may help improve metabolic and gut health as well as overall cancer resilience.

That said, lifestyle changes alone are not a complete solution. We need to look at the whole picture for tools to reduce cancer risk, including testing for genetic predispositions, regular screenings, and addressing barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment.

But it’s equally important to promote comprehensive prevention strategies that include lifestyle modifications. It’s time to broaden the conversation to include lifestyle factors, empowering women to take control of their health.

References:

·       Vander Heiden, M. G., Cantley, L. C., & Thompson, C. B. (2009). Understanding the Warburg effect: the metabolic requirements of cell proliferation. Science (New York, N.Y.), 324(5930), 1029–1033. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1160809

·       Klement, R. J., & Champ, C. E. (2014). Calories, carbohydrates, and cancer therapy with radiation: exploiting the five R's through dietary manipulation. Cancer metastasis reviews, 33(1), 217–229. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10555-014-9495-3

·       Vivarelli, S., Salemi, R., Candido, S., Falzone, L., Santagati, M., Stefani, S., Torino, F., Banna, G. L., Tonini, G., & Libra, M. (2019). Gut Microbiota and Cancer: From Pathogenesis to Therapy. Cancers, 11(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers11010038

This piece by Julia Holden was featured in the Chicago Sun Times as a Letter to the Editor on 10/24/24 and slightly edited here.