<!–

–><!–

–>

What We Need To Know | Resources

All Stories

<!–

–>

Comment

Print this Story | E-Mail this Story

<!–a href="#" target="_blank"></a–>

New studies from Harvard University suggest that young girls can reduce their risk of breast cancer later in life through simple steps, such as exercise and a healthy diet.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that just over 13 percent of women born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives.

Experts say that risk factors for cancer include age, family history and weight.

“One of the things we know is that if you’re thin, you probably produce a little bit less estrogen,” says Dr. Ruth O’Regan, an oncologist. “Exposure to estrogen is probably a major determinant of whether you’re going to develop breast cancer over your lifetime.”

She says exercise early in girls’ lives can delay the onset of puberty, which can in turn lower hormone levels.

“One of the things we know about risk factors for breast cancer,” she says, “is that the earlier you start your periods, the more likely you are to get breast cancer.”

She says that exercise, along with a healthy diet low in fat and high in fiber, are the easiest ways to reduce weight — and your child’s risk of developing breast cancer.

“They’re obviously things that we can change,” says Dr. O’Regan, “so I think it’s important to actually encourage teenagers to have a healthy diet [and] take as much exercise as possible — because that’s something you can actually do to prevent, to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.”

Fourteen-year-old Terri Mosby is losing weight with the help of her mom. “I used to hate exercising, nobody could really get me to exercise,” she says. “But now, it’s kind of cool.”

“One of the things I know about children is that they do what you do, and they say what you say,” says Paulette Hogan, Terri’s mom. “So my job was to do whatever it was going to take to get them healthy.”

“It goes back to the same things doctors have been saying for years: diet and exercise, diet and exercise, diet and exercise,” she says.

What We Need To Know

• Encourage exercise at a young age. Physical activity can lower estrogen levels and delay the onset of puberty – lowering the risk of breast cancer. (Ruth O’Regan, M.D.)




• Keep healthy food around the house. A poor diet in childhood could increase the risk for breast cancer later in life. Fruits, vegetables and other foods high in fiber are the best. (Ruth O’Regan, M.D.)




• Know your family history, when it comes to breast cancer. If the cancer is common among relatives, make sure your children are screened when they get older. (Ruth O’Regan, M.D.)




• Alcohol can also increase the risk of breast cancer. Teach young adults to drink responsibly, or not at all. (American Cancer Society)

Resources

• National Institutes of Health
• American Cancer Society

Top ˆ