Weight and Diet Linked To Poorer Breast Cancer.........

[Guest guest]

Weight and Diet Linked To Poorer Breast Cancer Prognosis (dateline

January 8, 2003)

Non-overweight women who maintain nutritious diets may have better

odds of surviving breast cancer and experience a higher quality of

life after breast cancer treatment than their overweight peers,

according to a review of several studies. Specifically, the report

found that women who are overweight or obese survive for shorter

periods of time after being diagnosed with breast cancer than women

who maintain a healthy weight or actively lose excess weight after

their diagnosis. The report also noted that fruit and vegetable

intake can positively affect survival after breast cancer. This

compilation of findings helps show that environmental factors such as

diet and nutrition can have a significant impact on breast cancer

prognosis.

While factors such as advancing age, certain genetic factors, early

onset of menstruation, late menopause, or never having children have

been clearly linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, the

association between diet, nutrition, weight, and breast cancer

remains uncertain. Some studies have found that high-fat diets

increase breast cancer risk, though other studies show a weaker

association. Similarly, the link between weight and breast cancer

remains controversial. Some studies suggest that overweight (or

obese) women who gained weight as adults are at an increased risk of

developing breast cancer, but other studies show that women who have

been overweight since childhood are not at a significantly higher

risk.

To help make sense of these issues and related ones, Cheryl L. Rock,

PhD, RD, of the University of California, San Diego in La Jolla,

California and her colleague Dr. Demark-Wahnefried of Duke

University Medical Center, reviewed and summarized evidence from

several studies that examined the relationship between nutritional

factors, survival, and recurrence after the diagnosis of breast

cancer.

They found that several factors influenced the progression of breast

cancer and a patients prognosis after an initial diagnosis. For

example, in the majority of studies, women who were overweight or

obese had a shorter survival time after being diagnosed with breast

cancer compared to women who maintained a healthy weight. Similarly,

women who gained weight during breast cancer treatment experienced a

reduced quality of life and a higher risk of recurrence of breast

cancer. Overweight or obese breast cancer patients were also at

higher risk of other health problems such as diabetes.

On the issue of nutrition, Drs. Rock and Demark-Wahnefried found a

somewhat weaker yet existing association between a healthy diet and

better breast cancer prognosis. Five of 12 reviewed studies found

that high-fat diets negatively affected breast cancer survival. The

majority of studies also found that eating plenty of fruits and

vegetables had a positive impact on breast cancer survival. Unlike

some prior studies, the report found no link between alcohol

consumption and a poorer prognosis after breast cancer diagnosis,

though the researchers say that alcohol intake does increase the risk

of developing breast cancer.

Drs. Rock and Demark-Wahnefried said that many women use their breast

cancer diagnosis as a wake-up call to actively lose weight and change

to a healthier diet. This can positively impact their chances of

surviving breast cancer as well as lower their risk of other health

problems, such as heart disease. The researchers say that compiling

the existing data on diet, nutrition, and breast cancer prognosis

helps make more sense out of these complex issues.

Additional Resources and References

The report, " Nutrition and Survival After the Diagnosis of Breast

Cancer: A Review of the Evidence, " is published in Vol 20, Issue 15

(August) of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, http://www.jco.org/

The August 14, 2002 Reuters Health report by Alison McCook, " Diet,

Weight May Affect Breast Cancer Prognosis, " is available at

http://www.reutershealth.com/en/index.html

To learn more about risk factors for breast cancer, please visit

http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/bc_risks.asp

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