Health & beauty
Health & beauty
10 Breast Cancer "Facts" You Shouldn't Believe
Do antiperspirants, hair straighteners, and birth control pills increase your odds of getting breast cancer? Here are the answers you've been looking for
Myth No. 10: Weight isn't a big risk factor Fact: Body weight does play a huge role in breast cancer risk. A 2011 study conducted by the Women's Health Initiative that evaluated 155,723 postmenopausal women found that women who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher in their premenopausal years were found to have a 35 to 39 percent increased risk of a breast cancer diagnosis compared to their thinner counterparts.
Why weight becomes a factor post-menopause isn't fully known, but Birhiray says the increased risk is most likely due to fat acting as storage for estrogen. The more fat cells you have, the more estrogen your body will store. And as we mentioned earlier, excess estrogen is a known factor in increased breast cancer risk. You can calculate your BMI here.
Why weight becomes a factor post-menopause isn't fully known, but Birhiray says the increased risk is most likely due to fat acting as storage for estrogen. The more fat cells you have, the more estrogen your body will store. And as we mentioned earlier, excess estrogen is a known factor in increased breast cancer risk. You can calculate your BMI here.
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