Lifestyle Link to Breast Cancer

Experts have gathered the strongest evidence yet that a woman's lifestyle is linked to her risk of developing breast cancer.

The biggest ever review of research into the issue has concluded that women should limit alcohol, take exercise and maintain a healthy weight.

More than four out of 10 cases of breast cancer could be prevented if women adopted healthier lifestyles, experts have predicted.

Breastfeeding babies is also an important factor in helping cut the chance of developing the disease, which kills around 12,000 women in the UK each year.

The latest study, from experts at the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), is an update on its cancer prevention report published in 2007, which looked at many different types of the disease.

That report drew on 873 breast cancer studies but now scientists at Imperial College London have added another 81 carried out in the last few years.

These latest studies confirm the link between lifestyle and breast cancer.

Professor Martin Wiseman, medical and scientific adviser for the WCRF, said the new report "represents the clearest picture we have ever had" on how lifestyle affects a woman's risk of breast cancer.

He added: "This means we are now more sure than ever before that by limiting the amount of alcohol they drink, maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active, women can make a significant difference to their risk.

"We estimate over 40% of breast cancer cases in the UK could be prevented just by making these relatively straightforward changes.

"About 45,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK, so it is clear these changes could make a big difference.

"As well as this, there is also convincing evidence that mothers who breastfeed reduce their risk and breastfeeding probably also reduces babies' chances of gaining excess weight as they grow."

The charity recommends that both men and women aim to be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.