October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. With this in mind, I think we should all not only think about those who are battling this horrible disease, but also take a moment to look at our own lives and how we are living it. Read on....
Women's Health Alert: Weight Gain May Lead to Breast Cancer
You’ve heard the many benefits of losing weight: these include looking and feeling better, sleeping more soundly and being more energetic. If you need any further ammunition whatsoever to trim down, know this – losing weight after menopause reduces your chance of breast cancer.
These findings have been reported in a recent research study. WebMD Medical News shared that “Findings from a study involving more than 87,000 female nurses show that weight gain during adulthood is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. Researchers also found that weight loss after menopause helped lower breast cancer risk.”
A direct correlation exists here; the more weight you gain, the more risk you face. On average, “gaining 55 pounds or more was associated with a doubling of breast cancer risk among women who had never used hormone therapy. Gaining 22 pounds or more after menopause was associated with an 18% increase in breast cancer risk for all premenopausal women.”
No matter where you are in life, you can fight the weight battle and win. “It seems from our findings that it is never too late to reduce breast cancer risk by losing weight”, explains project researcher, A. Heather Eliassen, ScD. Given the fact that those pounds are often more stubborn in later years, Elliasen urges women “to avoid weight gain in the first place.”
Cancer, at any level, is a harsh, cruel and widespread condition; if it has not affected you personally, chances are high that you know someone in this situation. Slimming down seems like an easy fix and, compared to radiation and/or chemotherapy treatments, far less painful too.
You’ve heard the many benefits of losing weight: these include looking and feeling better, sleeping more soundly and being more energetic. If you need any further ammunition whatsoever to trim down, know this – losing weight after menopause reduces your chance of breast cancer.
These findings have been reported in a recent research study. WebMD Medical News shared that “Findings from a study involving more than 87,000 female nurses show that weight gain during adulthood is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. Researchers also found that weight loss after menopause helped lower breast cancer risk.”
A direct correlation exists here; the more weight you gain, the more risk you face. On average, “gaining 55 pounds or more was associated with a doubling of breast cancer risk among women who had never used hormone therapy. Gaining 22 pounds or more after menopause was associated with an 18% increase in breast cancer risk for all premenopausal women.”
No matter where you are in life, you can fight the weight battle and win. “It seems from our findings that it is never too late to reduce breast cancer risk by losing weight”, explains project researcher, A. Heather Eliassen, ScD. Given the fact that those pounds are often more stubborn in later years, Elliasen urges women “to avoid weight gain in the first place.”
Cancer, at any level, is a harsh, cruel and widespread condition; if it has not affected you personally, chances are high that you know someone in this situation. Slimming down seems like an easy fix and, compared to radiation and/or chemotherapy treatments, far less painful too.
You can support breast cancer research and help find a cure by visiting the Breast Cancer Site and donating to the American Cancer Society.
Copyright © 2006-2009 Curb Your Cravings LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide
Copyright © 2006-2009 Curb Your Cravings LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide
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2 comments:
I think that weight gain contributes to more than just one type of cancer. From various articles I've read in several online health related sites, there appears to be a link between obesity and colon cancer and other aggressive forms of cancer.
With breast cancer, the added danger of extra fat modules IN the breast making monthly self exams more difficult to uncover a very small tumor. Breast cancer is one of the most aggressive form of cancer known and if not treated in the earliest stages presents the greatest risk to metastisize into other tissue such as the lymph nodes and bone cells. We women need to be very aware and aggressive in our approach to prevention and weight control can indeed be one of our best weapons against this horrid disease!!
If I sound like I'm ranting sometimes when it comes to cancer in general and breast cancer in particular, well maybe I am but it would be due to the fact that I have lost 2 very dear friends to breast cancer and just about all my family members who are gone, ended life losing the battle against what I perceive as a monster--cancer.
Oh wow this is scary stuff!!! Pretty darn good incentive to lose some poundage especially for us that fall into the higher risk category like me. Thanks for the heads up....I'd totally missed this health report.
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