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Physical activity and breast cancer risk
B D'Avanzo1, O Nanni, C La Vecchia
1Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano, Italy.
Summary
Engaging in regular physical activity, both at work and during leisure, significantly lowers breast cancer risk. This protective effect is observed across different life stages and is more pronounced before age 60.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Oncology
- Public Health
Background:
- Breast cancer remains a significant global health concern.
- Understanding modifiable risk factors like physical activity is crucial for prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between occupational and leisure-time physical activity and breast cancer risk.
- To analyze these associations across different age groups and life stages.
Main Methods:
- A multicentric case-control study involving 2569 breast cancer cases and 2588 controls.
- Analysis adjusted for confounding factors including total calorie intake.
- Odds ratios (ORs) calculated for different levels of physical activity.
Main Results:
- Increased occupational physical activity showed reduced breast cancer risk (ORs ranging from 0.54 to 0.70 for ages 30-39).
- Leisure-time physical activity also demonstrated a protective effect (ORs as low as 0.66 for the highest category at ages 50-59).
- The protective association was stronger for diagnoses before age 60 and slightly greater in more educated women.
Conclusions:
- Both occupational and leisure-time physical activity are associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer.
- Physical activity appears to be a significant protective factor, particularly for women diagnosed before age 60.
- These findings support public health recommendations promoting physical activity for breast cancer prevention.