Physical Activity May Help Reduce Risk

• A recent study found that recreational physical activity earlier in life may help lower breast cancer risk.
• Breast tissue composition and stress biomarkers may be indicative of the risk of breast cancer later in life. Regular physical activity may help mitigate these markers.
• As breast cancer rises in younger females, these results highlight the importance of regular exercise for cancer prevention.

Research has long shown that adult females who are more physically active may have a lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who are not.

However, new research published in Breast Cancer Research has found that more physical activity during adolescence may affect breast cancer risk markers later in life.

Previous research has found that adult females who are more physically active may be able to lower their risk of breast cancer by up to 21% compared to those who are less active.

Adopting strategies to reduce breast cancer risk earlier in life can influence health outcomes later on.

The study analyzed data from 191 Black and Hispanic girls between the ages of 11 to 20 years old.

Participants reported the number of hours they engaged in both organized and unorganized recreational physical activity.

They measure three breast cancer biomarkers:

The participants reported that 51% had no past-week engagement in any recreational physical activity, 73% reported no participation in organized activities, and 66% reported no participation in unorganized activities.

The study found an association among recreational physical activity, BTC, and oxidative stress. This was true regardless of body fat levels.

The study authors noted that additional research is needed to verify the implications of these findings regarding the risk of breast cancer later in life.

“This study is consistent with our understanding of the relationship between physical activity and risk of breast cancer. Many other studies demonstrate the same association. It appears physical activity is protective,” noted Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA, executive vice president of Public Policy and Strategy for Texas Oncology, who was not involved in the study.

She noted that the surprising aspect of this study is that it appears to show this connection even after controlling for obesity.

Research indicates that around 90% of breast cancer cases can be attributed to non-genetic factors. A healthy diet and regular physical activity can potentially prevent around 25% of cases.

“Encouraging a healthy lifestyle with regular physical activity will likely positively influence the risk of breast cancer, other obesity related cancers, and other chronic diseases,” noted Patt.

Daniel Ganjian, MD, FAAP, board certified pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, who was not involved in the study, agreed.

“Encouraging young girls to stay active is one of the best things we can do for their long-term health,” he told Healthline.

“We should make it fun rather than a chore, so my advice is for parents to lead by example and find activities they actually enjoy,” he added.

According to a 2018 study, regular physical activity may help reduce the risk of breast cancer by reducing the levels of estrogen and insulin in the body. These are both key factors in the development of breast cancer.

A study from 2022 found that higher levels of physical activity can reduce the overall risk of breast cancer by 23%. It also showed that physical activity has the highest levels of benefits among females during or after menopause, or those who have a body composition of the upper-normal-to-overweight range.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) notes that there are certain risk factors for breast cancer that you can’t control. These include:

• being born female
• aging
• inheriting certain gene changes
• having a personal or family history of breast cancer
• starting periods early
• starting menopause later

Lifestyle factors that you can control and that can affect your risk of breast cancer include:

• having overweight or obesity
• drinking alcohol
• leading a sedentary lifestyle
• having never had children
• having never nursed
• taking certain hormonal types of birth control
• using certain menopausal hormone therapies

“Cancer prevention (and chronic disease prevention) is comprised of many healthy behaviors, and a healthy diet and regular physical activity are important components of preventing chronic disease,” noted Patt.

If you have any concerns about your risk for breast cancer or you notice any changes to your breast shape, tissue, or look, speak with a healthcare professional.