Weight, Diet and Your Granddaughter's Breast Cancer Risk

Two studies being presented at the Americannot only in daughters, but also in granddaughters. The
Association for Cancer Research annual giveresearchers found that when pregnant female rats
interesting insight into how diet and body weightwere fed a high fat diet, their daughters and
impact breast cancer risk.granddaughters had an increased number of terminal
Research which looked at cancer diagnoses in 72,007end in their mammary glands. They also had a higher
women aged 55-74 years highlights the importancerate of mammary tumors.
of maintaining a healthy weight throughout adulthood.With an estimated lifetime risk of being diagnosed
According to the study, women who gained weightwith breast cancer closing in on 1 in 7, finding ways
between 20 and 50 years of age had a significantlythat we can help reduce our own risk and that of
higher risk of developing breast cancer. In fact,our daughters and granddaughters is extremely
women who gained >5 kg/m2 between age 20 andexciting and powerful. I have to admit though, that
the start of the study had nearly twice the risk ofreading about the second study made me feel a little
postmenopausal breast cancer when compared tosick. While I can work to control my weight going
women who maintained or lost weight.into the future, and help my daughters develop habits
Another study looked at the impact of diet duringthat will help them do the same, there's nothing I can
pregnancy on the development of breast cancer indo to change what I ate while I was pregnant with
daughters and granddaughters. The results of thismy daughters. I also can't help but wonder what my
interesting study indicate that eating a high fat dietmom and grandmother ate while they were pregnant.
during pregnancy could increase breast cancer risk