[LifeStyle] A healthy lifestyle increases survival in breast cancer

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Women with high-risk operable breast cancer who follow healthy lifestyle recommendations may have a 37% lower risk of recurrence and increase their chances of survival by 58%.

Following a healthy and balanced diet, sleeping well, exercising and avoiding tobacco and alcohol consumption are habits that help prevent the development of diseases, but, in addition, a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of prevent breast cancer patients from recurring and improve their chances of survival by 58%, reveals a new study published in JAMA Network Open.

The researchers followed the course of 1,340 women with high-risk operable breast cancer and analyzed their lifestyles before, during and after treatment. Thus, they found that greater adherence to the prevention recommendations of the American Cancer Society and the American Institute for Cancer Research, such as the practice of physical activity, a high consumption of fruits and vegetables and a low consumption of meat and sugary drinks, and not smoking was associated with a 37% lower risk of breast cancer recurrence and a 58% lower risk of mortality in these patients.

The study authors wrote that “these findings suggest that “lifestyle interventions may be a safe, inexpensive, and viable adjunctive strategy to delay and prevent recurrence and death from the world's most common cancer.”

"Adhering to these recommendations not only has benefits in relation to breast cancer, but may reduce the risk of other tumors and positively affect cardiopulmonary and metabolic health."

Miguel Martín, Head of the Medical Oncology Service at the Gregorio Marañón Hospital and president of GEICAM considers that "every day there is more evidence that lifestyle factors such as physical exercise, alcohol consumption, diet and being overweight influence the outcome of women with operable breast cancer. This study adds information in the same sense ”, according to his statements to SMC Spain.

And he adds: “Given that the effects of treatment and lifestyle add up, the overall improvement is already significant. In addition, adhering to these recommendations not only generates benefits in relation to breast cancer, but could reduce the risk of other tumors (such as uterus and colon-rectum) and positively affect cardiopulmonary and metabolic health.

Josep Maria Borràs, scientific coordinator of the Cancer Strategy of the National Health System and director of the Catalan Oncology Plan Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), also told SMC Spain that the study "can help a lot to highlight the importance of lifestyle in the probability of survival in women treated for breast cancer”. "It confirms previous recommendations, but greatly strengthens the available evidence by design."

“The benefits at the individual level are relevant, but modest [considering the absolute risk]. However, considering the group of patients, it has a high impact. And in any case, carrying out these behaviors of better diet and physical exercise has very positive consequences on the quality of life of the affected women ”, he concludes.

 

https://www.webconsultas.com/noticias/salud-al-dia/cancer-de-mama/un-estilo-de-vida-saludable-aumenta-la-supervivencia-en-cancer