BC Risk may be reduced By Exercise ...Estrogen Metabolism

Interesting article CP. Thanks for posting.

Also interesting is what a poster wrote after reading the article:

Just Bad Luck

posted by Janet on 10 May 2013 at 3:23 am

I think what I am trying to say is that people feel safer that it won't happen to them if they read different articles claiming what causes cancer. When people who have had breast cancer have lived a very healthy life it's quite distressing to read them. I know of doctors who themselves have been through it even though having lived a very clean life. I don't think we will ever find the common denominator unfortunately . It's just bad luck . I do think that living a healthy lifestyle with lots of exercise is beneficial regardless .

The key word is "may".

I've been athletic and active all my life.  Middle distance runner, swimmer, field hockey, cycling.  If I could move, I did it.  Kept it up right until my diagnosis at age 50 with hormone-positive breast cancer.  Still active and athletic; just a few days ago did a 50km bike ride.

I think exercise is good for overall health, but I don't believe that it can help prevent- or lower the risk of cancer.  Cancer is first- and foremost a genetic disease.  

Hi mepic,

Exercise forces the exchange of fluid for us. It helps to force us to drink, and that flushes out waste substances and toxins that otherwise just tend to remain in our cells longer. Also, exercise combined with healthy diet reduces body fat, and since excess body fat is considered to increase one's cancer risk, exercise reduces risk.

One can chose to "depend" on taking drugs like tamoxifen as a preventive measure against cancer, just as one can chose to "depend" on such helpful practices as diet and exercise. Tamoxifen does not always prevent the development of cancer, nor does diet and exercise, but either one (or both) can increase protection.

A difference about taking tamoxifen alone is that for certain patients tamoxifen does nothing whatsoever to provide protection, whereas proper exercise and diet are helpful for protection against cancer for anyone.