Active lifestyle can help lower breast cancer risk

An active lifestyle, which could involve brisk walking, gardening and doing housework, helps reduce the chance of getting breast cancer, research suggests. The study involving Oxford University researchers is thought to be the largest ever to look at physical activity and breast cancer, and included over 8,000 breast cancer cases in women. The research is part of ongoing work by the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC), one of the biggest studies into the links between diet, lifestyle and cancer. The researchers found that the most physically active women were 13% less likely to develop breast cancer compared with those who were physically inactive. "This large study further highlights the benefits of being active." - Professor Tim Key Researchers found that women who were moderately active had an 8% lower chance of developing breast cancer. Professor Tim Key of the Cancer Epidemiology Unit at the University of Oxford, who works on the EPIC study, said: 'This large study further highlights the benefits of being active - even moderate amounts. There is also a lot of evidence that exercise reduces the risk of bowel cancer.