Private MD News

Lifestyle characteristics may be more important in breast cancer than family history

Category: Breast

Lifestyles associated with good breast health - which may include getting plenty of exercise, eating a nutritious diet and seeking regular breast cancer testing - may help reduce women's risk of cancer, even for those who have a family history of the illness.

These are the findings of a recent study from University of Rochester researchers. Investigators said they hope the results will inspire women with a family history of breast cancer who thought that their risk of developing the condition was out of their hands to make lifestyle improvements.

For the study, researchers examined the medical records of more than 85,000 women and asked the degree to which they adhere to the American Cancer Society's recommendations on diet, exercise and alcohol consumption.

They found that women with a family history of breast cancer who closely followed the guidelines were significantly less likely to develop breast cancer than those who had a family history but did not follow the recommendations.

"It's important to note that a family history of breast cancer can arise in part due to shared unhealthy behaviors that have been passed down for generations," said Robert Gramling, who led the study. "But our study shows that engaging in a healthy lifestyle can help women, even when familial predisposition is involved."