TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A research published on Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention early this month revealed that aging women taking a brisk stroll everyday have reduced their breast cancer risk. Some who conduct vigorous exercise daily even got almost the double protection from the disease.

The research on more than 73,000 women at menopause age stated that taking a moderate walk up to one hour a day corresponds to 14 percent reduced cancer risk whereas an hour or more physical exercise can reduce up to 25 percent of the risk.

"The good news is that you don’t have to run a marathon to stay away from breast cancer," said one of the researchers, Alpha Patel, who is the senior epidemiology expert of American Cancer Society from which the research got funded.

"Do things you like to do, have fun by taking a walk for one hour a day to reduce breast cancer risk," Patel suggested.

Breast cancer as a type of cancer women in the world most feared. In United States, one out of eight women suffers from breast cancer.

It is thought that exercise helps cut down the body fat that can produce cancer-stimulating hormones such as estrogen and insulin. Risk of breast cancer rises as the estrogen exposure rises. In addition, women are suggested to maintain body weight to avoid more breast cancer risk.

SDJ