For women who have been treated for breast cancer, the question that often follows is: What can I do to keep it from coming back? While there’s no single guarantee against recurrence, research shows one strategy stands above most others—regular physical activity. Exercise isn’t just beneficial for overall health; it plays a meaningful role in lowering the risk of breast cancer returning.
When it comes to breast cancer, people often think about genetics, age, or family history. While these factors do matter, there’s another piece of the puzzle that doesn’t get enough attention: body fat. Research consistently shows that excess body fat—especially after menopause—can increase the risk of developing breast cancer. But does reducing body fat actually help lower that risk? The short answer: yes, and here's why.
While genetics and age play a role in breast cancer risk, many people overlook how much everyday habits can influence long-term health outcomes. You can’t control every factor, but research continues to show that lifestyle choices can make a meaningful difference in reducing risk. Whether you have a family history of breast cancer, are focused on prevention, or simply want to take better care of your health, certain changes can support your body’s ability to protect itself.
Breast cancer develops when abnormal cells grow in breast tissue. It’s the second most common cancer in women in the U.S., after skin cancer. Early detection has significantly improved survival rates.
Staging breast cancer helps doctors decide on treatment and estimate outcomes. A cancer stage is determined by the tumor’s size, where it is, the type of breast cancer, and whether it has spread.
According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, impacting over one and a half million women each year. There are currently more than three million breast cancer survivors in the United States alone.
Unfortunately, a “cancer-proof” diet doesn’t exist, but there are many lifestyle factors that can help lower your overall risk.
When people think of breast cancer, most think of “pink” and breast cancer in women. But the truth is men develop breast cancer, too. Men make up about 1% of all breast cancer cases, which means 1 in 726 men will be diagnosed in their lifetimes. The diagnosis is rare in men, but that is still a lot of men getting breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women worldwide. In the U.S. alone, about 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. But thanks to increased awareness, better screening, and improved treatments, survival rates continue to rise.
Still, early detection remains key. In honor of National Women’s Health Month, here’s what every woman should know about breast cancer risks, warning signs, and screening guidelines.
In 2025, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 685,000 died from it worldwide. Breast cancer occurs when abnormal breast cells grow uncontrollably and form tumors. If these tumors are not detected and treated, they can spread to other parts of the body and become fatal.
For most of human history, aging was treated as a one-way decline. We grew older, our bodies gradually weakened, disease became more likely, and eventually our health deteriorated.
That assumption is beginning to change.
