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You may wonder if there are things you can do, aside from your treatment, to lower the risk of your breast cancer growing or coming back.

Breast cancer is one of the most-studied types of cancer in this regard. Research has shown there are several things you can do that might be helpful.

Staying as healthy as possible is more important than ever after breast cancer treatment. Controlling your weight, being physically active, and eating well may help you lower your risk of breast cancer coming back. These habits can also help protect you from other health problems.

Getting to a healthy weight

If you’ve had breast cancer, getting to and staying at a healthy weight might help lower your risk of the cancer returning.

A lot of research suggests that having excess body weight raises the risk of breast cancer coming back. It has also been linked to a higher risk of lymphedema, as well as a higher risk of dying from breast cancer.

Even though excess body weight is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer coming back, it’s not as clear whether losing weight during or after treatment can lower this risk. This is complicated by the fact that many women gain weight during breast cancer treatment, without trying to do so. This weight gain itself might increase risk.There is less research on this issue, but large studies are looking at it now.

Other health benefits of losing weight

If you have excess body weight, getting to a healthy weight can have other health benefits.

• Weight loss has been shown to improve quality of life and physical functioning among breast cancer survivors who have excess body weight.
• Getting to a healthy weight might lower your risk of some other cancers, including a new breast cancer.
• It might also lower your risk of some chronic diseases.

Making a plan with your healthcare team

Because of the many possible health benefits of losing weight, most healthcare providers encourage people with excess body weight to get to and stay at a healthy weight. Even losing a few pounds may be helpful. But it’s important to talk with your healthcare team before trying to lose weight, especially if you are still getting treatment or have just finished. They can help you create a plan to lose weight safely.

Being physically active

Among breast cancer survivors, studies have found a consistent link between physical activity and a lower risk of:

• Breast cancer coming back
• Dying from breast cancer
• Dying of any cause

Physical activity has also been linked to improvements in quality of life, physical functioning, and fewer fatigue symptoms.

How much activity do I need?

It’s not clear exactly how much activity a person needs to get these benefits. But more seems to be better. More vigorous activity may also be more helpful than less vigorous activity. But further studies are needed to help clarify this.

What if I have lymphedema?

In the past, breast cancer survivors with lymphedema were often told to avoid certain arm exercises and vigorous activities. But studies have found that this type of physical activity is safe when done the right way. It might actually lower your risk of lymphedema or improve your lymphedema if you already have it.

Making a plan with your healthcare team

As with other lifestyle changes, it’s important to talk with your treatment team before starting a new physical activity program. This will likely include meeting with a physical therapist. Your team can help you plan a safe and effective program.

Eating a healthy diet

In general, it’s not clear if eating any specific type of diet can help lower your risk of breast cancer coming back. Most research on possible links between diet and the risk of breast cancer coming back has looked at broad dietary patterns, rather than specific foods.  

But we do know that there are other health benefits to eating well. For example:

• Diets rich in plant sources are often an important part of getting to and staying at a healthy weight. Staying at a healthy weight might help lower the risk of breast cancer coming back.
• Eating a healthy diet can also help lower your risk for some other common health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Studies on specific foods

Some studies have looked at possible links between specific foods and the risk of breast cancer recurrence. But more research is needed.

Dietary supplements

So far, no dietary or nutritional supplements have been shown to clearly help lower the risk of breast cancer progressing or coming back. This includes vitamins, minerals, and herbal products. That does not mean that no supplements will help. But it’s important to know that none have been proven to do so.

In the United States, dietary supplements are not regulated like medicines. They don’t have to be proven effective, or even safe, before being sold. However, there are limits on what their makers are allowed to claim they can do.

Talk to your healthcare team before taking any type of nutritional supplement. They can help you decide which ones are safe and which ones might be harmful.

Avoiding or limiting alcohol

It’s clear that drinking alcohol increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. Even as little as a few drinks a week increases this risk.

But it is not as clear whether alcohol affects the risk of breast cancer coming back. Drinking alcohol can raise the levels of estrogen in the body. In theory, this could increase the risk of breast cancer coming back. But there is no strong evidence from studies to support this.

It is best not to drink alcohol.

• Women who do drink should limit it to no more than 1 drink a day.
• This can help lower your risk of certain types of cancer, including another breast cancer.
• For women who have finished cancer treatment, the effects of alcohol on cancer recurrence risk are largely unknown.

This issue is complex, so it’s important to discuss it with your healthcare team. They can help you make an informed choice based on your risk of breast cancer coming back, your risk of getting other cancers, and your risk of other health issues linked to alcohol use.

Learn more

• 大象tv Nutrition and Physical Activity Guideline for Cancer Survivors