Walk at Home

Walk Away from Breast Cancer

Being active can be the best prevention!

Studies show that physically active women can reduce their risk of breast cancer by 25%.  Exercise will even help with those with high risk factors such as; having a strong family history of breast cancer, those who hadn’t had children, and those who had taken hormone replacement therapy.  Regular exercise will cut down your risk of developing the disease as well as preventing its return.

Three to five hours of weekly brisk walking gives you the most protection from breast cancer.Three to five hours of weekly brisk walking gives you the most protection from breast cancer.  You don’t have to start training for triathlons, or spend hours in the gym to reduce your risk of developing the disease.  A brisk, half hour walk five days a week will actually do the trick!  Michelle Holmes, MD, DrPH, of Harvard Medical School states, “the good news is women don’t have to run marathons to get the maximum benefit.”  Moderate exercise, like walking is enough to provide a benefit. Although a greater amount of vigorous activity also reduced breast cancer risk, the amount of the reduction was not statistically significant.  

Walking will not only cut down on the risk of developing the disease, but actually lowers the mortality rate as well.  Some breast cancer risks cannot be controlled, but studies show that walking can improve the odds.  

Breast cancer patients who exercise have better mood, better body image, and better self-esteem. We know it fights other diseases that women with breast cancer can also get, like heart disease and diabetes. And it may also help these women avoid dying from breast cancer.  Exercise also helps improve your muscle tone, strength, and endurance.

Women who are overweight produce and store more estrogen in their bodies.  Increased exposure to estrogen and risk of breast cancer are linked. Studies show the more you exercise and the slimmer you are; the greater the risk reduction.  Women who are overweight produce and store more estrogen in their bodies.  Increased exposure to estrogen and risk of breast cancer are linked.  Exercise is a natural way to reduce your estrogen levels, as well as reducing other hormones and growth factors that can cause breast cells to turn into cancer.  

Debbie Saslow, director of breast and gynecologic cancers for American Cancer Society states, “It’s great that we can tell women there’s something they can do that’s not going to have horrible side effects.  Even though the effect is not huge, a lot of new treatments don’t make a bigger difference than this, and some make a whole lot less.”  

Whether you are trying to prevent breast cancer or recover from treatment, walking helps extend your survival.  A regular walking program and a healthy diet improve your overall health and boost psychological benefits as well.  Make a commitment to maintaining and improving your health with walking!