Letter to the Editor

Healthy lifestyle can reduce risk

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

To the Editor:

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and as a dietitian, I think we should focus on the healthy lifestyle and dietary changes that can reduce women's risk of breast cancer and increase chances of survival.

A new analysis by European researchers predicts that obesity will become the leading cause of cancer in women in Western countries within the next decade. University of Manchester researchers believe excess weight leads to higher estrogen levels, which promotes cancer cell growth.

But studies show that a vegetarian diet can help shed pounds and may decrease the incidence of breast cancer. A low-fat plant-based diet can also help women with breast cancer greatly reduce their risk of recurrence. For more information about how a healthy diet can help fight cancer, visit www.CancerProject.org.

Krista Hayes

Staff Dietitian

The Cancer Project

Washington, DC