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CNN Live At Daybreak
Good News About Breast Cancer Prevention
Aired October 22, 2003 - 06:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer among women and it is the second leading cause of cancer death for women. But there is some good news about breast cancer out this morning, as far as preventing it.
Nutritionist Lisa Drayer of Dietwatch.com here with the low down.
And this will make a lot of people out there exercising very happy.
LISA DRAYER, NUTRITIONIST: That is true, Carol.
In fact, exercising is definitely one of the behavioral things that you can do to increase your risk. And the good news is it may not take that much. As little as one hour and 15 minutes per week has been associated with about an 18 percent decreased risk of breast cancer.
That's the exercise, though there's also some dietary factors, as well. For example, avoiding red meat and high fat dairy. These are animal fats. That is associated with a lower risk -- I'm sorry, with a higher risk of breast cancer. And maintaining a healthy body weight, that's one of the most important things that you can do. In fact, obese women post-menopause have one and a half times the risk of breast cancer as compared to women of normal weight. So it's really important to maintain a healthy body weight.
COSTELLO: Wow. What about diet? I've heard broccoli can ward off cancer.
DRAYER: Yes.
COSTELLO: And soy can do that, too.
DRAYER: Exactly. Right. In fact, a recent study found that fruit and vegetable consumption wasn't associated with increased risk, but vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower may be an exception. These are cruciferous vegetables and they have special chemicals in them, those phytochemicals, that may react in a variety of ways in the body to help decrease the risk of breast cancer. So do make sure you get your broccoli and your cauliflower. If you prefer it cooked instead of raw, steaming will help to preserve some of those chemicals.
In addition, soy has been a little bit controversial. Some studies show that it may actually provide protection but other studies show that, in fact, it may increase the risk of breast cancer. So if you do have a high risk, I would limit your intake of soy to two to four servings per week.
COSTELLO: Well, that doesn't even make sense. So some people think it actually lowers your risk, but others think it actually...
DRAYER: Yes, but -- exactly. The studies are conflicting. Some studies show that it actually may mimic the effects of estrogen in the body, in which case it can promote the growth of breast tumor cells. The research is unclear, so just be careful if you are at high risk and watch alcohol, too. Alcohol has been associated with increased risk. Limit it to one beverage per day.
COSTELLO: Oh, one beverage. We can live with that.
Lisa Drayer, thanks very much.
DRAYER: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 22, 2003 - 06:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer among women and it is the second leading cause of cancer death for women. But there is some good news about breast cancer out this morning, as far as preventing it.
Nutritionist Lisa Drayer of Dietwatch.com here with the low down.
And this will make a lot of people out there exercising very happy.
LISA DRAYER, NUTRITIONIST: That is true, Carol.
In fact, exercising is definitely one of the behavioral things that you can do to increase your risk. And the good news is it may not take that much. As little as one hour and 15 minutes per week has been associated with about an 18 percent decreased risk of breast cancer.
That's the exercise, though there's also some dietary factors, as well. For example, avoiding red meat and high fat dairy. These are animal fats. That is associated with a lower risk -- I'm sorry, with a higher risk of breast cancer. And maintaining a healthy body weight, that's one of the most important things that you can do. In fact, obese women post-menopause have one and a half times the risk of breast cancer as compared to women of normal weight. So it's really important to maintain a healthy body weight.
COSTELLO: Wow. What about diet? I've heard broccoli can ward off cancer.
DRAYER: Yes.
COSTELLO: And soy can do that, too.
DRAYER: Exactly. Right. In fact, a recent study found that fruit and vegetable consumption wasn't associated with increased risk, but vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower may be an exception. These are cruciferous vegetables and they have special chemicals in them, those phytochemicals, that may react in a variety of ways in the body to help decrease the risk of breast cancer. So do make sure you get your broccoli and your cauliflower. If you prefer it cooked instead of raw, steaming will help to preserve some of those chemicals.
In addition, soy has been a little bit controversial. Some studies show that it may actually provide protection but other studies show that, in fact, it may increase the risk of breast cancer. So if you do have a high risk, I would limit your intake of soy to two to four servings per week.
COSTELLO: Well, that doesn't even make sense. So some people think it actually lowers your risk, but others think it actually...
DRAYER: Yes, but -- exactly. The studies are conflicting. Some studies show that it actually may mimic the effects of estrogen in the body, in which case it can promote the growth of breast tumor cells. The research is unclear, so just be careful if you are at high risk and watch alcohol, too. Alcohol has been associated with increased risk. Limit it to one beverage per day.
COSTELLO: Oh, one beverage. We can live with that.
Lisa Drayer, thanks very much.
DRAYER: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
