David Chan article 2 / 01-25-06

As a breast cancer patient, can I improve my chances with lifestyle changes?

There are three relatively safe and simple lifestyle changes that may help lower your risk of recurrence. Two of the changes are dietary and the third involves exercise.

Lowering dietary fat results in weight loss and a lower recurrence risk. This may work by lowering naturally occurring estrogen levels. Eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables may also help by promoting antioxidant activity.

Lastly, in a recent study from Harvard, women who had higher levels of exercise had lower recurrence rates. Even fast walking was helpful. Cancer specialists for years have thought these lifestyle changes might be helpful, but it wasn’t until just last year that three important studies gave strong support for these recommendations. Lifestyle changes should only supplement and never replace surgery, radiation, antiestrogen therapy, and when needed, chemotherapy.

David Chan, M.D.

Diplomate, American Board of Medical Oncology

Member, South Bay Independent Physicians Medical Group, Inc.