New Report Highlights Potential Links Between Weight, Physical Activity And Breast Cancer Survival

The AICR has released the Continuous Update Project (CUP) Report on Breast Cancer Survivors in the US. This report is their most in-depth review of worldwide research conducted into breast cancer survivors and the lifestyle factors affecting their survival.

This is the first time that their research has identified potential links between diet, weight, physical activity and longer survival for women diagnosed with breast cancer.

In 2007, AICR/WCRF published a report on the lifestyle-cancer link. Today, 7 years later, their advice has not changed: eating a plant-based diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting regular physical activity remain the best strategies for all cancer survivors.

The report found some evidence suggesting that women who eat more foods containing fiber and soy may have a lower risk of dying following a diagnosis of breast cancer, and women eating a diet high in fat and saturated fat may have increased risk of dying following a diagnosis of breast cancer. However, these findings are not strong enough to merit specific recommendations for breast cancer survivors.

This research is important because there are over 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. Every year, more than 232,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Increasing numbers of women are surviving as methods of diagnosis and treatment improve.