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Does a Healthy Lifestyle Prevent Hereditary Breast Cancer?
Many people have a hereditary cancer risk. For them, prevention options are of particular importance. "Regular exercise and a healthy diet can protect women from getting breast cancer and reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence," reports the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG). The extent to which the measures also have an effect on hereditary cancer predisposition will be investigated in a new study.
Can a Healthy Lifestyle Lower Your Hereditary Cancer Risk? It has been proven by scientific research that a healthy diet and physical activity are preventive against breast cancer. However, "whether women with a hereditary predisposition for breast or ovarian cancer with a healthy lifestyle can protect themselves from breast cancer or relapse has not yet been investigated," according to the UMG. For a corresponding study of the German Cancer Aid, participants are currently being sought at the UMG Breast Center.
Researchers are investigating whether sport and a healthy diet are suitable for the prevention of hereditary breast cancer. (Image: gpointstudio / fotolia.com)Changes in breast cancer genes a known risk factor
Many women have a genetic risk of increased breast cancer risk. In particular, changes in the breast cancer genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 are associated with a high risk of disease. Whether sport and a healthy diet can prevent the occurrence of cancer even with appropriate predisposition, will now be reviewed in a large study. For example, the UMG Breast Center is currently looking for volunteers for the German Cancer Aid Study. "Healthy and diseased women between the ages of 18 and 70, who have been shown to have a change in the breast cancer genes BRCA1 or BRCA2, can participate," reports the UMG. The study should clarify "whether women with a high hereditary cancer risk can benefit from a structured sports and nutritional program."
Structured nutrition and sports program including cooking class
According to the UMG, the so-called LIBRE study compares two groups to which the participants are assigned by lottery. According to the experts at the beginning of the study in the "control group" there will be a sports medicine examination, an explanation of the benefits of regular physical activity and advice on healthy nutrition. The implementation is left to the subjects. The "intervention group" also has a structured nutrition and sports program including a cooking class for three months. After three months, the subjects are re-examined, and thereafter, clinical follow-up examinations are performed once a year for a period of three years. In addition, the study participants should fill in questionnaires to record the physical activity, the diet and the stress levels.
According to information from the UMG, the LIBRE study was started in Germany in 2016 in 16 centers for familial breast and ovarian cancer of German Cancer Aid. "LIBRE" stands for "lifestyle intervention in healthy and diseased BRCA1 / 2 mutation carriers". The study management has Prof. Dr. med. Marion Kiechle from the gynecological clinic at Klinikum rechts der Isar (TU Munich). The aim is to review the prevention options for hereditary breast cancer risk.
Further risk factors identified
In view of the fact that an increasing number of young women are already suffering from breast cancer, physicians are also asking what risk factors play a role in addition to hereditary predisposition. Recent studies, for example, have made it clear that overweighting of the fathers has an influence on the breast cancer risk of the daughters. In addition, many other factors are likely to be involved that could not be identified so far. However, effective prevention requires that as many risk factors as possible are known. (Fp)