Understanding Breast Cancer Risk Factors: Exercise

Let’s get moving and be physically active! Exercise can help with weight control. For postmenopausal women, being lean lowers the risk of breast cancer. And physical activity may lower estrogen levels in all women, which can also protect against breast cancer. Physical activity may also boost the body’s immune system so that it can help kill or slow the growth of cancer cells.

• Activity equal to walking 30 minutes a day may lower risk by about three percent.
• For breast cancer survivors, activity equal to a 30-minute brisk walk several times a week leads to lower recurrence rates and death from breast cancer.
• Being active is good for your health, but it can be hard to find time to exercise. Do whatever activities you enjoy most (for example, dancing or gardening) that get you moving.

Learn more: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/LackofExercise.html