How working out can lower chances of breast cancer development

Post-menopausal women who are regularly working out are less likely to develop breast cancer due to the fact that they have lower estrogen levels, based on new research.

Many scientists have often connected working out with low breast cancer risk for older women partially because of the lower levels of estrogen in their bodies, because increased estrogen levels are known to also increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

This new research led and about to be presented by Cher Dallal of the US National Cancer Institute has shown how working out can help protect women from breast cancer. Due to the relatively fresh results of the study, all conclusions are to be treated as preliminary up until it is published in a professionally evaluated journal.

The study
According to Dallal, the goal is to get a more detailed understanding as to how exercise can impact estrogen levels. The study involved the evaluation of 540 Polish women between the ages of 40 to 74 who were signed up as control patients in fit physical health in the NCI's Polish Breast Cancer Study. Not one of these women was undergoing hormone treatment.

The subjects took part in a variety of physical exercises, and had an accelerometer on their waist during their waking hours in order to measure their overall activities. The research also involved them to collect urine samples every 12 hours.

Dallal assessed the urine samples by checking estradiol and estrone hormones together with the various estrogen metabolites. She claims that physical activity is linked to lower main estrogen levels as well as heightened metabolism of some of the metabolites.

She also says that enhanced overall activity seems to show a heightened metabolism of estrogen, and this was the first time that they were able to evaluate the 15 metabolites.

According to Leslie Bernstein, a City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center professor and director of cancer etiology in Duarte, California, the usage of the accelerometer has provided a more detailed account of the activities during the women's waking hours compared to other ways, for example exercise journals.

Although Bernstein did not take part in the research, she was among the pioneer researchers involved in studying physical activities as a means of lowering estrogen levels and risk of breast cancer development. She said that this new research further proves that working out can lower your chances of developing breast cancer, however further research is needed before this can be stated as fact.

Bernstein also states that exercise also lowers the risk of other diseases and helps to improve insulin metabolism, as insulin is connected with certain cancers. Furthermore, working out aids in weight control. Majority of estrogen hormones are derived from fat tissues after menopause and high fat tissue heightens estrogen levels which successively lead to breast cancer risk.

Basically, the main point is for women to start working out. Those who have been sedentary for a while will need to visit their doctor before engaging in physical activities that can challenge the body.

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