Wednesday, March 3, 2004

Prevention is still
the best medicine

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

The oncologists, pathologists and researchers who attended the Laura Evans Breast Cancer Symposium agreed on many points this week. One of them was that taking preventative steps is an important way for people to take control of their risk factors.

Folic acid reduces the risk of liver disease, Dr. Kent Osborne, of Baylor College of Medicine said. It also seems to "eliminate increase in breast cancer, despite there being no strong data yet." Alcohol is proven to increase the risk of breast cancer, no matter what kind, Dr. Marc Lippman said. "It’s also true that if you drink a glass five times a week, it reduces the risk of heart disease."

"Exercising vigorously for four hours a week reduces the risk of breast cancer 40 percent," Dr. Michael Press said. "Encourage your children."

"We recommend that strongly," Lippman added. "Throw away the video games."

Body fat produces excess circulating estrogen, which feeds breast cancer that depends on the hormone to grow.

"Women who’re overweight have more estrogen receptors," Gralow said. "Control the things you can control. Physical activity, reduced caloric intake, take folic acid and be screened."

 

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