Women of any age can cut their risk of breast cancer by undertaking daily physical activity, researchers reported yesterday.
The benefits of active sport apply to women of any age or weight, the European Breast Cancer Conference in Glasgow was told.
The only women who may not benefit are those taking hormone replacement therapy, according to a study by Professor Mathieu Boniol, of the International Prevention Research Institute, Lyon, France.
Being active daily cuts the risk of developing the disease by 12% compared with being inactive, he reported.
His findings come from an analysis of some 37 pieces of research published over the last 25 years and involving more than four million women.
Professor Boniol said: "Adding breast cancer, including its aggressive types, to the list of diseases that can be prevented by physical activity should encourage the development of cities that foster sport by becoming bike and walk-friendly, the creation of new sports facilities, and the promotion of exercise through education campaigns.
"This is a low cost, simple strategy to reduce the risk of a disease that currently has a very high cost, both to healthcare systems and to patients and their families."
Conference organising committee chair Dr Hilary Dobson said: "These findings are important for all women, irrespective of their age and weight.
"Whilst the mechanism for the potentially protective effect of physical activity remains unclear, the analysis, which is presented here, provides women with a real impetus to increase their physical activity by even modest increments."
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