Healthy lifestyle changes can prevent breast cancer returning and save lives

US scientists looked at the medical records of 1,340 women with high-risk breast cancer, and found those who stuck to the lifestyle changes recommended by the American Cancer Society and the American Institute of Cancer Research were 37% less likely to see the disease return and 58% less likely to die, compared with women who did not adopt the recommendations. The recommended lifestyle changes are increasing physical activity, watching your BMI, eating more fruit and veg, reducing red and processed meat, cutting back on sugary drinks and alcohol, and quitting smoking. Although this type of study cannot prove that lifestyle changes actually caused the improvements seen, the scientists say strategies to help women learn about and implement the recommendations should be integrated into breast cancer care.