What is known about the effect of being athletic as a teen, and therefore having relatively lower body fat, on risk of breast cancer?
It is thought that exercise [at any time in life] may decrease estrogen levels. However, this is still being investigated. Also, exercise decreases obesity, a risk factor for post-menopausal breast cancer. Increased exercise has been shown in several studies to be associated with decreased risk of breast cancer. There have been several studies that have examined the effect of physical activity on menstrual cycle in adolescence. The results from a few of these studies are somewhat theoretical — they state that regular participation in moderate physical activity and reduction of ovulatory cycles might reduce the risk of breast cancer, but this has not been proven to date. Other studies suggest that consistently high activity levels throughout life reduce breast cancer risk. They suggest that women may reduce their risk by increasing their activity levels in adulthood (44, 48).
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