According to the 2018 reports on Breast Cancer Statistics, breast cancer accounts for 14% of cancers in Indian women. The aforementioned data is alarming, making a buzz around the reasons for this deadly disease. There is an ongoing buzz about a correlation between obesity and breast cancer. Dr Anupama Mane, Consultant Breast Surgeon, Ruby Hall Clinic Pune and Dr Reshma Puranik, Consultant Medical Oncologist, DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune shed light on this concept. Scroll down to learn more.
Dr Reshma Puranik said, “Breast cancer cases are increasing day by day and we are having more an more young women with breast cancer in whom we feel that obesity is seen as a risk factor. So, obesity is one of the risk factors of breast cancer.”
“Obesity is defined as those ladies in whom the body mass index is above 30 grams per metre square,” she added.
Here are the reasons why obesity may increase the risk of breast cancer:
Dr Anupama Mane said, “Obesity often leads to higher levels of oestrogen, a hormone that can promote the development of breast cancer.” Fat tissue produces oestrogen, and excess body weight can increase its production, especially after menopause.
Dr Reshma Puranik added that if the lady continues to remain obese, then the chances of recurrence also remain high. Because the fat cells continue to produce oestrogen and especially the chances of hormone-positive breast cancer increase.
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Dr Mane said that obesity is associated with insulin resistance, which can lead to higher levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). Elevated insulin and IGFs can promote cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis (programmed cell death), which may contribute to cancer development. Furthermore, obesity can cause chronic inflammation, which has been linked to cancer progression.
Dr Mane emphasised that obesity can lead to changes in gene expression through mechanisms like epigenetics. These changes may affect how cells grow and divide, increasing the risk of cancer.
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Obesity is often associated with lifestyle factors such as poor diet and lack of physical activity, both of which can independently increase cancer risk.
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