Breast Cancer Collaborates with Obesity Disease

Approximately 7.6 million people die of cancer every year in the world. Obesity disease, which triggers many types of cancer, especially breast cancer, continues to threaten health by becoming widespread day by day. Getting rid of obesity is very important to protect yourself from cancer. Excessive weight increases the risk even in men who have only 1% breast cancer. Memorial Health Group's Obesity Surgery Centre Experts gave important information about the relationship between obesity and cancer.

Obesity triggers cancer in 4 ways

1) It accelerates the growth of the tissues that cause cancer in the body: There is a definite relationship between obesity and cancer. One leg of this relationship is through the production of hormones that are different from those used by the body. For example, fat cells produce oestrogen, which is effective in the formation of breast cancer. This oestrogen causes different effects in the body such as breast augmentation and deterioration in breast tissue. Adipokines secreted by adipose tissue are substances that make cancer in the body. Along with obesity, the amount and effect of these increase and thus the body becomes unable to prevent them. This oestrogen causes cancer in the breast tissue and large intestines. This risk increases in those with a family history of colon cancer or breast cancer.

2) It makes it difficult for tumour-fighting cells to breathe: Every day, cancer cells are produced in the human body and a battle is fought against these cells. If the amount of tumour is too much, the body is eaten and cancer begins to form. Obesity is also known to have a suppressive effect on cancer-fighting cells. Obesity reduces the effectiveness of cells fighting the tumour in tissues. Even getting rid of excess weight just before cancer surgery reduces this risk.

3) Reduces the success of chemotherapy: Studies conducted until 2017 show that obesity decreases the success of chemotherapy taken after tumour surgery. If a woman or man with breast cancer continues to have obesity, the chemotherapy period is more challenging than normal. Since the body mass is too high, the doses administered are high, so the destructive effect of chemotherapy is experienced more. In this period, the recommended treatment for patients is to lose weight before tumour surgery accompanied by a dietitian and a psychologist. However, obesity surgery may be considered if the patient's weight starts to resist chemotherapy.

4) It increases the spread of the tumour to other organs: Obesity not only accelerates tumour cell formation, but also increases the spread of the postoperative tumour, which is called metastasis and is one of the most feared factors in cancer.

Increased risk of breast cancer in men

Breast cancer cases are very rare in men, but they progress much more dangerously. It is known that obesity decreases sexual power in men and causes breast enlargement. This is caused by oestrogen produced in excess fat tissue in the body. Therefore, obesity disease increases the risk of breast cancer in men.

Permanent solution for excess weight that you cannot lose with diet and exercise

According to the results of the body mass index evaluation, individuals are accepted as normal up to 24, overweight from 24 to 29, and obesity patients after 30.

The treatment applied at this stage is called obesity treatment. Obesity surgery is performed if the body mass index is higher than 35 and there are diseases associated with obesity. Apart from this, if the BMI is higher than 40, obesity surgery is mandatory. When obesity ends, the chance of the body to fight cancer increases, while the chance of encountering cancer decreases. Therefore, the first step in the fight against cancer is movement and diet under the control of a doctor. However, if there is cancer as a genetic burden in patients who do not lose weight, especially in the family, obesity disease surgery is considered as the last resort.

The method should be personalized in obesity surgery

Studies show that the risk of cancer decreases after obesity surgery. The method in obesity surgery is determined specifically for the patient after a comprehensive evaluation. The patient returns to his/her work and social life in a short time after the operation and is protected from many risks such as diabetes, heart disease, joint problems, infertility and sleep apnea syndrome caused by obesity.

Raise your child's awareness about obesity

The foundations of obesity disease are laid in childhood. It is very important to be conscious in order to be protected from the diseases that obesity will bring and to stay healthy. In addition, these treatments, which enable you to get rid of obesity, will increase the time you spend with your children and enable you to set an example for them for a healthy life.

Prepared by the Medical Editorial Board. Our health library contents have been prepared for informational purposes only and with the scientific content on the registration date. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis or treatment about your health, please consult your doctor or health institution.