Physical Activity and Reduction of Breast Cancer Risk

1. Physical Activity and Reduction of Breast Cancer Risk

2. Physical Activity vs. Exercise Physical Activity Exercise Physical training Recreational physical activity Aerobic or anaerobic Higher intensities • Any form of movement using skeletal muscles. • Movement required for daily life. • Occupational physical activity • Activities done for enjoyment.

3. Benefits of Physical Activity • Physical activity can help maintain and/or reduce weight • It helps to maintain and/or reduce body mass index (BMI) • Underweight < 18.5 • Normal = 18.5- 24.9 • Overweight = 25.0-29.9 • Obesity > 30

4. Benefits Continued • Helps us burn excess calories instead of turning into fat • Increases lean muscle • Helps retain and strengthen bone • Strengthens the immune system • Enhances mental and emotional well being

5. Definitions • Risk- The likelihood of developing cancer based on lifestyle choices and family history • Prevention- Lifestyle choices to reduce the risk of cancer • Recurrence- The return of cancer after treatment

6. Pre vs. Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Premenopausal Postmenopausal More common form Linked to younger age of menarche and older age menopause Higher risk with no or few children, or older age of first birth Strongly linked to obesity after mid-life • Occurs in younger women • Often linked to genetic predisposition • Typically more severe and harder to treat

7. Female Breast Cancer Incidence Rates* by State, 2007 Rates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population. †Source: U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2007 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2010. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/uscs.

8. American Institute for Cancer Research Summary • Increased amounts of physical activity reduce risk of breast cancer. • Stronger for postmenopausal women

9. Physical Activity and Risk of Breast Cancer Among Postmenopausal Women • Objective • Examine the associations of physical activity with breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women • long-term activity • recent activity • change in activity • specific types of activity

10. Study Design • Nurses Health Study - 95,396 postmenopausal women • Questionnaire in 1986 • time per week spent doing physical activities • 7 more questionnaires over next 20 years • Reports of breast cancer confirmed through medical records

11. Results • Moderate physical activity may reduce postmenopausal breast cancer risk • 5 hours per week of brisk walking was sufficient to reduce the risk of breast cancer • An increase in activity after menopause may be beneficial

12. Take Home • Moderate physical activity like walking reduces breast cancer risk • More exercise further reduces risk • Physical activity reduces risk in women with a family history of breast cancer

13. The evidence is strong that a lifestyle including regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight reduces breast cancer risk for women of all ages

14. The  American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association recommend 30 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise 5 days a week and strength- training exercises twice a week

15. Summary • Physical activity has many benefits • Maintains healthy weight • Physical activity reduces cancer risk • moderate is good but vigorous is better • Daily and consistent