Preventing Breast Cancer

According to Jefferson Healthcare Director Nancy Schmidt, the Nurses' Health Study, which has followed 120,000 women since 1971, found that one to three hours of exercise per week lowers breast cancer risk by 25%. Three to eight hours of exercise per week lowers the cancer risk to 50%.

Schmidt said that stress management is another good preventive measure. She said that although stress isn't thought to 'cause' cancer, prolonged stress can weaken the immune system. A study at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle demonstrated that stress-free rats were able to fight off and kill tumor cells that were injected into them, whereas rats exposed to prolonged stress didn't do so and developed cancer. Schmidt said that supportive relationships and regular practice of stress reduction techniques such as imagery, meditation, yoga, or tai chi can help decrease the effects of stress. Schmidt stressed that even people who generally don't handle stress well can be taught techniques to actively reduce the effects of stress on the body.

From an article in the Jefferson Healthcare Newsletter, Fall 2005

Contact John Tamiazzo by emailing him at jtamiazzo@msn.com
Last modified: 10/8/05