Breaking News in Breast Cancer

As most of my faithful readers know, I try to provide a mixture of research, community outreach and true-life stories in this column. It's time for another installment of the latest info to be disseminated about breast cancer.

Exercise is good for you! A study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, was conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center of Seattle. The results show that even moderate exercise helps to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Something as simple as walking three times a week for thirty minutes can help. The reduced risk was even noted in the higher risk populations, such as women with a family history of breast cancer, women who never had children and women who use HRT (hormone replacement therapy). It also states that this study worked for women who only began an exercise program post-menopause. Word of caution: This was an observational study (meaning that they watched a sampling of women). It does not weigh in the fact that these women might take better care of themselves in general (eat better, sleep regularly, avoid alcohol etc).In any case, we all know that exercise is good for us, so why not give it a try? I personally decided to join a newly opened gym in August. (I admit I've been a slug for the almost 5 years since my diagnosis. It was easier to blame my extra weight on the hormonal therapy than to get my butt off the couch. But now, newly divorced, newly moved and about to be the mother of the bride, I decided to take the plunge. I'm glad I did. I've lost a few pounds, but more importantly, I've lost part of my "belly", feel more energetic and generally look healthier.) Give it a shot - what have you got to lose? Hopefully, a few inches and pounds and you can gain self-confidence, a healthier lifestyle and maybe even reduce your risk of breast cancer.

Breast Cancers are not all the same A recent study in Cancer examines the impact that different tumor biology can make in breast cancer. The general rule for breast cancer prognosis has always been based on the size of the tumor, the spread (or not) to the lymph nodes and the metastatic spread (to other organs). This study believes that the medical community must now look thoroughly at the biology of the tumor, and many other gene/protein markers related to each individual cancer case. This is why breast cancer research is so important. Not only do we want them to find the cause and the cure, but it would be helpful to everyone if they could identify different factors which affect your cancer directly. Keep pushing for research dollars and fund-raise and aid community awareness however you can.

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