Breast cancer survivors often take hormonal drugs as part of their post-treatment regimen to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
These drugs can be particularly effective for hormone-positive breast cancers, which are driven by the female sex hormone estrogen.
Aromatase inhibitors are a class of medications that work by lowering estrogen levels in the body, thereby preventing cancer cell growth.
However, new research suggests that the effectiveness of these drugs may be compromised in women who are obese.
The Study
Researchers from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark conducted a study involving 13,230 breast cancer survivors who had been diagnosed with hormone-positive breast cancer and were taking aromatase inhibitors to prevent cancer recurrence.
The study’s findings indicated the following:
Increased Risk in Obese Women: Women who were obese were 18% more likely to experience a breast cancer recurrence, even when taking aromatase inhibitors.
Higher Risk in Severely Obese Women: The risk of recurrence was even higher among survivors who were severely obese.
Mechanism Not Fully Understood: The exact mechanisms by which obesity affects the effectiveness of aromatase inhibitors are not entirely clear. Obesity can alter drug metabolism and distribution, potentially impacting treatment outcomes.
Fat Tissue and Estrogen: Fat cells store estrogen, and obese individuals have more fat tissue. This could explain why aromatase inhibitors are less effective at suppressing estrogen in women who are obese.
The Significance
While the study underscores the potential impact of obesity on the effectiveness of aromatase inhibitors, it is crucial to note that these drugs remain the preferred treatment choice for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
Aromatase inhibitors still significantly lower the risk of breast cancer recurrence and related deaths in this patient group.
Clinical Implications
Understanding the link between obesity and the risk of breast cancer recurrence in women taking aromatase inhibitors can empower patients to make informed decisions about their health.
Maintaining a normal weight, adopting a healthy diet, and engaging in regular exercise can play a pivotal role in lowering the risk of breast cancer recurrence. Obesity is a modifiable risk factor, and lifestyle changes can contribute to reducing this risk.
Conclusion
The study sheds light on the importance of considering weight and lifestyle factors in breast cancer survivorship.
Obesity’s impact on cancer treatment outcomes highlights the significance of incorporating nutrition and exercise programs into post-cancer diagnosis care plans.
Empowering women with knowledge about the role of weight in recurrence risk can lead to better health outcomes and a reduced risk of breast cancer recurrence.
If you care about breast cancer, please read studies about a major cause of deadly breast cancer, and common blood pressure drugs may increase death risk in breast cancer.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies that new cancer treatment could reawaken the immune system, and results showing vitamin D can cut cancer death risk.
The research findings can be found in JAMA Network Open.
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