Diet and Breast Cancer - Is There a Link?
This is a great question and has recently become a passion for me, because I really think we are what we eat and diet has a tremendous role in breast cancer!
Realize that only 7-10% of breast cancer is hereditary and so there are other important factors in our day to day life that may predispose us to develop breast cancer.
Several studies have pointed to a role of high fat diets in different cancers across the board and also in breast cancers. Also, studies show that being overweight or at an unhealthy weight increases both the risk and the survival of breast cancer.
Physical activity may also play a role in both the prevention and improved survival for breast cancer. All that in context, we need to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, less red meat, less processed foods and reduce our total fat intake to less than 15% of our dietary calories.
These are truly lifestyle modifications but will make us healthier on multiple levels both with other chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiac disease as well as breast cancer. Many physicians are not adequately trained or do not have the time to make such dietary interventions, but may partner with registered dieticians in their community to optimize the health of their patients and their community!
Working together, we can educate patients as to their ability to control their medical future!
