How does obesity rank as a risk factor for cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports
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Obesity ranks up there along with habits like sedentary lifestyle and poor diet as a risk factor for cancer, with a new study showing that when it comes to breast cancer recurrence, it’s important there also. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says for women with breast cancer the message is clear.
Nelson: In terms of risk factors that you can control for breast cancer that's got to be one of the largest. We have done clinical trials here in the community in in Baltimore for cancer survivors taking all comers. A substantial number of the people who come and want to participate in these trials are actually breast cancer survivors and they want weight loss. Of course there's huge news related to therapeutic interventions to reduce weight it will be very interesting to ascertain how these agents behave vis a vis cancer. :33
Nelson encourages women to talk with their doctors about this possibility. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.