International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

If women were to lead healthier lifestyles, around 20,000 cases of breast cancer could be prevented each year, a new study has revealed.

New data from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) shows that if women were more physically active, consumed less alcohol and maintained a healthy weight, they would be less at risk of the disease.

Dr Rachel Thompson, deputy head of science at the WCRF, said there is still a long way to go when it comes to raising awareness about the ways in which women can lower their risk of breast cancer.

"What these figures show is that people can do a lot to reduce their chances of developing cancer," she said, adding that the charity believes around a third of all cancers could be prevented by people adhering to healthier lifestyles.

Scientists at the University of Calgary, Canada, recently announced they had created a digital tool which could allow breast cancer patients to have a more accurate assessment of the disease.

Posted by David Smith