Experts have known for a long time that there is a link between excess body fat and cancer risk. If you're a cisgender women, being overweight or obese can increase your risk of breast cancer. The risk increases after menopause.
There are multiple factors that might explain the link between weight and breast cancer. For one thing, fat tissue increases the amount of estrogen in your system. This can trigger hormone-related breast cancer. Experts also note that high body fat affects insulin levels. Higher insulin is another risk factor for cancer, including breast cancer.
New Data on Weight and Breast Cancer
A recent study from Rutgers University found that the body weight link to breast cancer was especially notable for Black cisgender women. The study looked at over 1,800 Black breast cancer survivors and found that weight negatively affected their treatment outcomes.
The researchers looked at overall body weight and the distribution of fat on the participants' bodies. They examined the participants about 20 months after they had received their cancer diagnoses. Doctors measured waist size and hip-to-waist ratios to determine where the participants carried the most weight.
Over the next five years, more than 175 of the study participants passed away from breast cancer-related causes. One hundred eleven participants passed away from other causes. The researchers found that being overweight or obese and carrying weight around the waist was linked with higher mortality from breast cancer as well as other causes.
What It Means
The researchers don't suggest that being overweight is the sole cause that leads to worse outcomes for Black breast cancer patients. In general, Black people are at higher risk of severe illness and death from many conditions. Other health disparities may also be a factor in breast cancer outcomes for Black patients.
The study does suggest that weight and how you carry it might be something doctors should keep in mind when treating Black people for breast cancer. Understanding the increased risk of complications or death can inform treatment choices.
The takeaway is that body weight can be a complication in cancer treatment. Doctors urge people to stay active and eat a healthy diet to control weight gain as much as possible. No matter what your weight, you should make sure to get annual mammograms if you're 40 years old or older. Early detection leads to better treatment outcomes. These simple lifestyle adjustments may help you beat cancer later on in life.
