New research suggests key life stages are linked to changes in behaviour that increases the risk of developing cancer.
Women in their 30s and 40s should be warned about the risks of alcohol and excess fat to help cut their risk of breast cancer, research suggests.
A new study found that lifestyle factors known to increase the chances of developing cancer actually differ depending on which life stage women are at.
Experts already know that around a quarter of breast cancers could be prevented through healthy lifestyle changes, such as taking more exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking less alcohol.
But in the latest research, experts found that key life stages are linked to changes in these behaviours, potentially giving public health experts opportunities to support women at times when lifestyle changes may be easier to make.
Professor Marc Gunter, chairman in cancer epidemiology and prevention at Imperial College London, said: “Our study has shown that adolescence and early adulthood may be a particularly important time to encourage physical activity and help prevent rapid weight gain.
“Meanwhile, early to mid-adulthood, from around the 30s to 50s, could be a key period for tackling rising body mass index (BMI) and renewed increases in alcohol consumption.
“By identifying when these behaviour transitions are most likely to occur, the findings could help inform more tailored public health strategies aimed at reducing breast cancer risk across the population.”
For the study, data from more than 110,000 women taking part in the Breast Cancer Now Generations Study was analysed by researchers at Imperial College London and The Institute of Cancer Research, London.
The findings, published in Scientific Reports, showed how major breast cancer risk factors related to lifestyle, such as alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise and weight, change throughout the course of people’s lives.
While alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity peaked in late adolescence, body fat steadily increased throughout adulthood, peaking in the late 60s.
Experts also found that women born between 1960 and 2003 generally had higher BMI trajectories throughout life and their level of smoking and alcohol consumption peaked at younger ages, than women born between 1908 and 1959.
Dr Simon Vincent, chief scientific officer at Breast Cancer Now, which funded the research, said: “We know that at least 23% of breast cancers could be prevented through healthy lifestyle changes, including being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking less alcohol.
“This study gives us valuable insight into when these behaviours are most likely to change.
“Understanding these key life stages could help us better support women to make lasting changes that reduce their risk of breast cancer.”
Amy Berrington, lead of the Generations Study at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “These lifestyle factors also cause a wide range of other chronic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other cancers, so these public health strategies would have a much broader impact on women’s health.”
There are around 59,000 new cases of breast cancer in women every year in the UK and 420 in men.
