Walking cuts women’s risk of breast cancer by up to 10 per cent, study finds

WALKING more could cut women’s breast cancer risk by 10 per cent, a study shows.

Exercises like going for a stroll, cycling and other sports helped reduce chances of developing the disease before menopause, with the most active getting the biggest benefits.

Dr Michael Jones, of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “These findings add to the strong body of evidence showing that being physically active is good for our health.

“Our research adds to the evidence that engagement in higher levels of leisure-time physical activity may lead to reduced premenopausal breast cancer risk.

“We still need to better understand the biology behind the link between physical activity and reduced breast cancer risk.”

Around 55,400 Brits are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, with 11,500 women dying from the disease.

While it is more common in older women, around 5,000 cases in women aged 45 or younger are spotted annually. 

Experts are not sure what causes it exactly, but risk factors include age, a family history, being tall, overweight or obese, alcohol and having had the disease before.

Previous research has shown walking around 6.5 hours a week can reduce the risk by up to 30 per cent.

The latest research, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, looked at data from 19 studies across the world, including more than 547,000 women.

They were tracked for an average of 11.5 years and 10,231 were diagnosed with breast cancer before the menopause.

Women who were among the 10 per cent most active were 10 per cent less likely to develop the disease than those who were the least active, after adjusting for BMI.

Dr Simon Vincent, of Breast Cancer Now, said breast cancers in younger women “tend to be more aggressive and diagnosed at a later stage”. 

He said: “So, we urgently need to find new ways to prevent people from developing the disease.

“While we can’t predict who will get breast cancer, there are some things people can do to lower their risk of getting it. 

“This research highlights how vital it is that we support women to start making small, healthy lifestyle changes that can positively impact their health.”