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Light, regular exercise may reduce cancer risk by 10 percent

Posted at 3:12 PM, Aug 11, 2014
and last updated 2014-08-11 15:12:17-04

A recent study out of France found even a small amount of regular exercise, like walking, can help postmenopausal women cut their risk for breast cancer.

The study followed postmenopausal women who walked at least four hours a week over the past four years. Their risk of breast cancer was 10 percent less than when we exercise less.

Specifically, more than 59,000 postmenopausal women in France were observed for an average of eight and a half years.

Now, it's definitely not a secret that exercise is good for your health, and it's long been known to be beneficial when it comes to fighting breast cancer.

The National Cancer Institute even names exercise as a "protective" activity.

Which is why Alison Estabrook, the chief of the division of breast surgery at two New York City hospitals, told HealthDay​ she's too not surprised by the findings.

"As a breast cancer surgeon, one of my roles is to discuss prevention strategies for women. ... Exercise is certainly one prevention strategy I discuss for many reasons, and this study emphasizes the importance of physical activity."​​

To find out what separates this study from others on the topic, watch this Newsy video.