Time to loose weight: Obesity a modifiable risk factor in Breast Cancer

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) , overweight and obesity are the most important known avoidable causes of cancer after tobacco.

A strong relationship exists between obesity and breast cancer(and various other cancers).  This co-relation is complex and not well understood.

Obesity has also been related to advanced disease at diagnosis and with a poor prognosis in both  pre-menopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer

Weight gain is common, after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, in many women . Weight gain and obesity lead to poorer breast cancer prognosis, worse surgical outcomes including higher infection rates, poorer healing, lymphedema, fatigue and functional decline.

Breast cancer–associated mortality is greater in women with higher BMI scores (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher).

Weight management  plays a key role in the prevention of breast cancer and in improving the prognosis once breast cancer is diagnosed.

Achieving or maintaining a desirable body weight by

eating a healthy, well-balanced diet and regular exercise

may be one of the most important lifestyle behaviors in the

prevention of breast cancer and to improve

survival after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Lingering questions and thoughts on the mind of a Breast Cancer Survivour

I am sure lot of questions remain on the mind, long after the last chemo/radiation. Life should have gone back to normal, no more fatigue/nausea, a head full of hair…. But the truth is survivors still face a host of problems.   To name a few….

• How to prevent Breast Cancer recurrence
• Management of  relationship with spouse/family/friends
• Whats the ideal diet… what can i eat
• Can I exercise… when and how much
• Why do i feel so fatigued…
• Regular sex life… is that ok? Vaginal dryness and a lowered sex drive are common side effects
• “Chemobrain” – mental changes like inability to focus and memory deficits
• To deal with accumulated effects of other treatments; neuropathy

It is important to  “maintain a healthy weight, not smoke, eat a balanced diet, limit alcohol, and have the recommended cancer screening tests”.

DIET

• Many vegetables, fruits, nuts, and other foods contain antioxidants. Foods with antioxidants include broccoli, liver, and mangoes. Antioxidants protect your cells from damage.
• Beta-carotene gives carrots, apricots, yams, and other vegetables and fruits their orange color. Some studies that suggest that a diet high in beta-carotene-rich foods may lower the risk of dying from breast cancer.
• Eat low-fat protein, such as roasted chicken and baked fish.
• Avoid steak, duck, sausages, or other high-fat meats and processed meats linked to cancer which include bacon, bologna, hot dogs, ham, and smoked meats.
• Eat five servings of a variety of vegetables and fruits each day
• Eat whole-grain foods like whole-grain bread and brown rice, rather than white bread and white rice.
• Cut back on alcohol. Limit yourself to one to two drinks a day.
• Consider loosing weight by increasing activity and cutting calories, if you are overweight being overweight after completing treatment was associated with shorter survival times and higher risk of cancer recurrence..

             EXERCISE

• It is not known if physical activity can prevent cancer recurrence or slow the progression of disease. But studies have shown that regular physical activity can reduce anxiety and depression, improve mood, boost self-esteem, and reduce symptoms of fatigue, nausea, pain, and diarrhea.

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