Leading the News
Certain lifestyle factors may offset genetic risk of breast cancer
TIME (5/26) reports that research published in JAMA Oncology suggests that nearly “30% of all breast cancers in the US could be prevented if women maintained a healthy weight, do not use hormone therapy for menopause, and cut back on drinking and smoking.”
The NBC News (5/26, Fox) website reports that the investigators “studied the cases of more than 40,000 women taking part in breast cancer and other health studies.” The researchers “looked at 92 common mutations known to raise breast cancer risk.” The investigators “left out the two best-known breast cancer risk genes – BRCA1 and BRCA2 – because they’re so clearly defined and studied.”
The Los Angeles Times (5/26, Healy) reports that the study indicated “that those women who are at greatest risk of developing breast cancer due to factors beyond their control, are the same women who most steeply reduce their risk when they maintain a healthy weight, stay away from hormone replacement therapy, don’t smoke and drink little to no alcohol.”
However, the ABC News (5/26, Mohney) website points out that the “study is limited by the specific group – white women between the ages of 30 to 80 in Australia, Europe and the US.”
