Study: Strenuous Exercise Helps Lower Risk of Breast Cancer

A new study has concluded that strenuous exercise throughout a woman's life can modestly reduce the risk of breast cancer for both pre- and postmenopausal women.

In a study of 1,550 women with and without breast cancer, the researchers asked about exercise or sports strenuous enough to sweat at age 16 and for time periods 2, 10, and 20 years before the interview.

Strenuous physical activity -- such as jogging, biking and aerobics -- was "generally associated with a reduced breast cancer risk," the researchers reported. "Walking was generally unrelated to risk."

They reported in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise that women who reported being highly active 20 years prior to the study had about half the breast cancer risk of inactive women.

"Our results suggest a modest protective effect of strenuous leisure time physical activity on breast cancer risk in both pre- and postmenopausal women," the researchers concluded. "The effects appear strongest for those active at least 20 years prior and among postmenopausal women who were consistently active throughout their lifetime."

Other sources: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise