Health

Actions

STUDY: Obese breast cancer survivors at higher risk for cancer return

Posted at 6:15 PM, Aug 27, 2012
and last updated 2012-08-27 18:40:53-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - Breast cancer patients who are obese or even just overweight may have a higher risk of recurrence of the most common type of the disease.

Researchers at the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care studied close to 5,000 women. Patients  who were obese had about a 30% higher risk of having a recurrence of their breast cancer and 50% higher risk of dying from their breast cancer.

Researchers suspect hormones, higher insulin levels and inflammation, which are associated with extra body fat, could play a role in driving cancer growth.

Experts say the findings suggest extra body fat causes hormonal changes and inflammation, which could drive some cancers, but more study is needed to confirm the link.