Wednesday 22 July 2015

Why breast cancer survivors tend to gain weight


According to a recent study, breast cancer survivors tend to gain more weight than women who are free of the disease and this consequently increases the risk of re-occurrence of the cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
During the research, 303 breast cancer survivors were compared with 307 women who were cancer free. It was observed that breast cancer survivors (especially those with chemotherapy treatment) gained more weight compared to cancer-free women which gives rise to the question of the after effect of chemotherapy. Although, experts have long known that breast cancer patients and survivors gained weight, but fully didn't understand why. Some speculate that people feel less motivated to work out because they don't feel well and they might choose to eat what makes them feel better and not what is most healthy. Others have suggested that chemotherapy increases inflammation and makes people insulin-resistant, changing metabolism. According to Dr. Kala Visvanathan, director of the Clinical Cancer Genetics and Prevention Service at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Center at John Hopkins, “chemotherapy could cause metabolic changes that predisposes you to weight gain”
After the research, it was suggested that women who are breast cancer survivors should have their weight monitored closely in order to reduce the risk of occurrence.

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