American Medical Association Adopts New Policy to Help Women Reduce Risk of Developing Breast Cancer

CHICAGO — The American Medical Association has adopted a new policy aiming to help women reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

Research has shown that a healthy plant-based diet, along with regular physical activity, limiting alcohol, and maintaining a healthy body weight, can reduce breast cancer risk.

This action comes after a national U.S. poll showed that, although most women are aware of ways to find breast cancer through mammography and self-examination, only 28% were aware of any dietary factors that can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in the first place.

The policy was drafted by Neal Barnard, MD, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Alternate Delegate to the AMA for the Medical Society of the District of Columbia.

The new AMA policy reads: “Our American Medical Association supports efforts to educate the public about the benefits of lifestyle changes that may reduce breast cancer risk, including regular physical activity, maintenance of a healthy body weight, a healthy plant-based diet, and limiting alcohol intake. Our American Medical Association encourages physicians to regularly discuss with their individual patients the benefits of lifestyle changes that may reduce cancer risk.” 

The Physicians Committee — a nonprofit of 17,000 doctors — commends the AMA on its leadership in improving breast cancer risk reduction education to patients.

The Physicians Committee sponsors “Let’s Beat Breast Cancer,” an annual campaign promoting these tenets. This year, some 75 rallies are planned in the United States and abroad to share the lifesaving message.

The National Cancer Institute reports that 1 in 8 women born in the U.S. today will develop breast cancer, and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women have a disproportionately high breast cancer death rate.

Studies show consumption of vegetables, fruits, and soy products, as well as increased fiber intake, is associated with reduced risk of post-menopausal breast cancer. Additionally, the National Cancer Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Institute for Cancer Research, and other authorities have determined that individuals may reduce their risk of breast cancer incidence and/or mortality by maintaining a healthy body weight, limiting alcohol intake, and having regular physical activity.