Cancer pancreatic prevent

Another lifestyle habit that helps prevents cancer is exercise. Scientists at the Alberta Cancer Board in Canada recently found that postmenopausal women who remain active have a lower risk of breast cancer. Women with the highest levels of activity were 30% less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than were couch potatoes (women who had the lowest activity levels).

The Canadians compared data from 1,200 breast cancer patients with women who did not have breast cancer. Researchers found no association between physical activity and risk of breast cancer among younger, premenopausal women.

They are not sure why activity prevents breast cancer. Reduced body fat or enhanced immunity may explain the connection. The lesson is that we need to remain active throughout life. It doesn't mean you have to race in the Tour de France, like Lance Armstrong. However, finding excuses to walk instead of ride, to do gardening instead of watching TV, are going to benefit you. Although this study did not show any particular benefit in younger women, good health habits are best established early (Am J Epidemiol 2001;154:336-347).

There is also evidence that obesity significantly increases the risk of pancreatic cancer as well. The good news is that even moderate physical activity can reduce the risk (even among seriously overweight individuals). So says a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA 2001;286:921-9}.

"Modifying behaviors may be a way to reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer," says lead author Dr. Dominique S. Michaud of the NCI. Obese men and women had a 72% increase in risk of pancreatic cancer compared with men and women who were lean. But men and women in the top 20% for moderate physical activity had less than half the risk of pancreatic cancer compared with those in the bottom fifth.

"It is increasingly clear," says a JAMA editorial, "that pancreatic cancer...could be prevented through behavioral and lifestyle changes." That's quite an admission from a journal that once categorically denied any connection between dietary changes and cancer.