Many experts state that one-third of breast cancers can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle. Several large-scale clinical studies in Europe and the United States, although using different approaches, have come to the same conclusion that physical activity, a healthy diet and maintaining a standard weight are three important factors in reducing recurrence in patients with early-stage breast cancer, and that regular physical activity combined with a healthy diet can substantially improve survival rates for patients with early-stage breast cancer. Combination is the key Three to five hours of moderate exercise a week can reduce the risk of death in breast cancer patients by 50 percent. A first-of-its-kind study examined the impact of combining physical activity and diet on survival rates for breast cancer patients. The study included 1,490 patients with early-stage breast cancer from a larger study that examined the relationship between diet and breast cancer survival. No one told these women what they should eat or how much exercise they should do, but when they entered this study between 1991 and 2000, researchers surveyed them about their diet and physical activity. They were then followed up for an average of 6.7 years. Both obese and low-weight women reported eating at least five fruits and vegetables a day and being physically active, although the former rate was only about half that of the latter. However, after excluding weight, the breast cancer-related mortality rate for women who had a healthy diet and were physically active was half that of the other women in the study, including those who had a healthy diet but were not physically active and those who were physically active but did not eat at least five fruits and vegetables daily. Focus on lifestyle While a 50 percent reduction in mortality sounds exciting, American Cancer Society spokeswoman Dr. Debbie Saslow also noted that the likelihood of a woman dying from early-stage breast cancer is also small. The 10-year projected death rate for women in the study who both ate a healthy diet and exercised regularly was 7 percent, while the 10-year projected death rate for the other women in the study was about 14 percent. She added that there is a growing body of research showing the importance of lifestyle in the survival rate of breast cancer patients. While there are still many unanswered questions about the impact of diet and exercise on breast cancer, Saslow said breast cancer survivors and women who are concerned about having breast cancer in the future should start living a healthy lifestyle immediately. “Whether a woman has breast cancer or not, she should be physically active and eating right.” Saslow said. Numerous studies have confirmed that it is the genetic defects that act on the body’s inherited genes that are the key factor in the development of most cancers. If genetic defects cannot be changed, acquired factors can definitely be avoided and changed. If breast cancer is detected early, treated early, with proper exercise, healthy diet and healthy lifestyle, its prognosis is much better than other cancers, and even completely curable.