Benefits, benefits, benefits
No getting around it, ladies. You just need to start exercising, if you aren't already. And if I sound like a broken record, that's okay, too. Especially if the broken record plays a tune that goes something like this: "Reduce breast cancer risk".
The largest study yet to take a look at receptor status and breast cancer - the Iowa Women's Health Study - found that the beneficial effects of exercise were especially notable for the more aggressive estrogen receptor positive/progesterone receptor negative tumors. And the best exercise is the exercise you'll do. That means dancing, gardening or a brisk 45 minute walk around the neighborhood all count.
Back in 1986, the researchers looked at 41,836 postmenopausal women between the ages of 55 and 69. They filled out a 16-page questionnaire that asked about their recreational physical activity, monitoring them over the course of 18 years.
Now for the good stuff: women who engaged in high levels of physical activity had a 14 percent lower risk of breast cancer than those who participated in low levels of activity. Also, women with high physical activity levels had a 33 percent lower risk of developing estrogen receptor-positive tumors.
Remember, body fat produces estrogen, which gives the green light to some tumors to grow. Another good reason to get moving and keeping your body fat low.
