Obesity Rate Could Reverse Positive Breast Cancer Trend

By Rachel Howell Stockton

When it comes to breast cancer, a published report by the American Cancer Society (ACS) has found that the death rate from breast cancer has been declining about 2% per year, since 1996.  What this translates into, according to lead author and epidemiologist Ahmedin Jemal, is that 130,000 women did not die from the disease.

Certainly, this is outstanding news; but Jemal also presents one caveat that may reverse this positive trend, and that is the obesity rate.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 30% of Americans are obese, and the stats are continuing to climb.  Obesity is a major, breast cancer risk factor, according to the ACS.

Adiposity and Estrogen

According to a report released in August by West Virginia University Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, “Pre-existing obesity and postoperative weight gain are related to a poor prognosis in breast cancer regardless of menopausal status.”  This is because of estrogen synthesis that occurs in adipose tissue.  The bottom line of the report?  Weight control is imperative when it comes to controlling breast cancer and preventing its progression.

Focus on Prevention

On average, the risk of contracting breast cancer within a decade after turning 50 is about 1 in 42.  Jemal’s ACS report states that women who gain 22 pounds after menopause face an 18% risk of developing breast cancer.

Conversely, the report states that the decline in the mortality rate could actually be accelerated by maintaining a healthy weight, and minimizing the consumption of alcohol, another risk factor.

On the ACS website, Co-author Elizabeth Ward, Ph.d and director of surveillance research at ACS says the study shows the importance of prevention.  "We need to invest in prevention because it's better for the quality of life of people if they live longer without a chronic or disabling disease," Ward said, "and it's better for us as a nation because we're not putting so many resources in treatment of chronic diseases."