Scientists have always known that exercise is good for you - but now researchers have found that woman who exercised regularly reduced their risk of developing breast cancer by 20%.

Moderate exercise, such as walking, cycling or swimming, for 30 minutes five times a week had the greatest impact.

Are we doing enough to reduce the risk of breast cancer? Is exercise the key?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received:

Women already benefit from breast and cervical cancer screening and rightly so. But what about those of us with vulnerable prostates and testicles? Shouldn't as much effort go into fighting male cancers?
Bryan, UK

I wasn't a 'candidate' according to the scientists! Alison, UK

At 33, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, had chemo, mastectomy and radiotherapy and a brilliant reconstruction. Nearly 10 years later I still can't understand why! Particularly as I exercised up to five times a week, had never smoked and had a healthy diet. I wasn't a 'candidate' according to the scientists! As for me, I remain fit and healthy and vigilant!
Alison, UK

Is there enough being done to fight prostate cancer? I must say the amount of money given to fight breast cancer is many times that for other cancers and male health issues are often marginalised. What is obvious is that women need to change their lifestyle and breast feed more, its no point spending vast sums of money when some of these women deliberately ignore health warnings. Let put some of these resources on male cancers were money are scarce.
Sam, UK

How anyone can say not enough is done re publicity for breast cancer is beyond comprehension! In Birmingham anyway it is well advertised and literature available in doctor's surgeries, newspaper articles quite often appear, it is always mentioned if you go to a GP for a smear test - every three years which is difficult to miss because if you don't keep it you get reminder letters until you go. Or am I just very lucky?
Anon, UK

There is plenty being done to help women reduce the risk of breast cancer. You'd have to be living on another planet to avoid all the publicity. However, men can get breast cancer too, but you hardly ever see that mentioned. Seems to me that men's health has become very much the poor relation to that of women. Come on men! It's time you got yourselves noticed!
Kate, Wales

We must remember that breast cancer is only one of the major cancers affecting adults - too much emphasis on this area can lead to underfunding of research in the other areas, such as prostate cancer. Attention grabbing headlines are all very well but they can increase disparities in funding.
Bill, UK

I am staggered by people who obstinately refuse to take simple preventative measures Keith, Australia

Reading other comments on this page I can see that this is an emotionally charged subject. I am staggered, however, by people who obstinately refuse to take simple preventative measures that will probably do them good in many ways. The study quoted is epidemiological and so you can't predict from it what will prevent breast cancer in any individual. But, for the sake of those who know and love you, don't say this is solely a personal choice.
Keith, Australia

Has anyone here thought about how many of the women who have breast cancer also took the contraceptive pill? Remember what happened with HRT. Of course, nobody will speak up about this because there's so much money in it for the pharmaceutical companies. Bit like "smoking is not addictive". Yeah. Right.
Kay Read, England

IS enough being done to fight breast cancer? After reading highlights on the BBC today I think this should be the last of our worries, especially when the human population is over 5 billion. Just read the article about the amount of endangered species in the world today, and who's is the main cause I wonder why? We must put things into perspective, we as a human race strive to save human lives but at what cot to the rest of nature. The government of today appear to show no or little respect to the environment at what cost to out future generations. Is it not time for us to support the well being of every form of life on this planet, without it we will all perish.
Terry, Brit in USA

I was diagnosed at age 50, and treated with surgery, chemo and radiation last year. I am really angry deep inside. I am in the 0 risk category, vegetarian, no family history, not overweight, non smoker/drinker etc. Why did it happen to me? I think the physicians do not discuss the importance of prevention of any disease. Their focus is more on cure. There must be more awareness that regular exercise, drinking eight glasses of water, healthy diet and stress free life is an absolute must. Most physicians are hurried and don't think it is their duty to discuss the overall mental and physical aspects of health. It was a very painful experience for me since I least expected it. I wish doctors and caretakers were more humanitarians and empathetic.
Mira, BC, Canada

Breast cancer, is very well funded, and enjoys the publicity of a host of high profile celebs. When you look at the funding figures for male cancers such as testicular and prostate, there is a clear disparity.
Chris Georg, England

Cancer is a complex disease Sue, UK

I have always exercised regularly and have been a vegetarian for more than 20 years. I have never been overweight and I breast fed my son. However I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 37. I get annoyed when I read these 'scientific findings' that try to explain why some women may increase their chance of developing breast cancer. Cancer is a complex disease and even my consultants admit that very often there is no rhyme or reason to who does develop it.
Sue, UK

My mother died of breast cancer aged 48. I, as a teenager, as the eldest of three sons nursed her through the final six years and it certainly made me more sensitive to the female gender as regards such matters. My mother (who was not a shy person) showed me exactly how to examine a woman's breast for lumps and I have first hand experience on how they feel. What has surprised me is that every girlfriend I had (inc my wife) didn't have a clue on how to examine themselves. Do yourselves a favour girls, go find out. It doesn't hurt and doesn't take long. Now all we have to do is raise consciousness of prostate cancer in men.
Ian Jones, UK

Once again a small series of scientific results offers the latest "one trick pony". While I agree that exercise should be a vital part of everyone's life, it does not make the seemingly random nature of this disease any more explanatory. My mother led a healthy and active life, but it still killed her within 18 months! Let's stop suggesting this kind of nonsense and try to understand cancer as a complete disease, rather than its component parts.
Rich, England

I am an ex-pat currently living in California. From the age of 40 I have been offered yearly mammograms as part of a routine screening programme. I wish that the NHS could offer this same level of care to anyone who wants it in the UK.
Carol, USA

I was 27-years old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I'm MALE Simon, UK

I was 27-years old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I'm MALE. No-one ever mentions the fact that men get breast cancer too. I was lucky. I spotted a lump and saw my GP quickly, not even thinking of any sinister. If I could want for anything, it would be for people to know their own bodies properly and get things looked at quickly, if anything is wrong.
Simon, UK

There is a lot that women can do to help themselves and young women need to examine themselves regularly (details can be found on CancerBacup or Cancer Research UK sites) and older women need to have regular mammograms, as well as checking themselves for lumps. We can all live a healthier lifestyle to try and prevent cancer (and many other nasty diseases), but with all cancers the key is early detection and we should all (yes you boys included!) take responsibility for looking out for any suspicious changes in our own bodies.
Alison, UK

Keeping fit may improve your quality of life, but at the end of the day, breast cancer is down to luck and genetics. Studies like this only serve to encourage the belief that breast cancer sufferers brought it upon themselves.
Toby Cave, UK

It seems nowadays everything causes and/or is a good preventative of cancer. Keep healthy, watch your diet and keep active. Have regular check-ups and if you find anything out of the ordinary, get it seen too. Other than that - get on with your life and enjoy it and don't worry yourself with nonsense rumours of what cancer you may get when eating chocolate bars, etc!
Damian, UK

My wife was diagnosed at the age of 23. As we lived in Germany, a country that actually has a working public health system, she was taken into hospital with 5 days and operated on. She is now 32 and nothing has reappeared and she is regularly tested and screened. We both take great delight - and fun - in checking each other for lumps and bumps in either breasts or testicles - it adds to the spice of life while having a serious side. Oh and they did a very acceptable 32B thanks!
, Anon

If only people took this much interest in what is or rather isn't being done about testicular and prostate cancers. I dream that one day men's health will get as much attention as women's health does.
David Howe, UK

Half an hour of moderate exercise five days a week doesn't sound much until you realise that less than a third of adults manage even this much.
David, UK

I hope prostate cancer receives more funding and recognition in the future, but don't de-value the importance of every penny that is spent on breast cancer JJ, UK

I sense a lot of resentment and bitterness amongst the men writing comments. Yes, breast cancer gets a lot more funding then prostate cancer, but it is much more common and if that funding is saving lives then every penny is worth it. No amount of funding will ever be enough, so please stop putting down breast cancer and its victims because you feel left out. I hope prostate cancer receives more funding and recognition in the future, but don't de-value the importance of every penny that is spent on breast cancer.
JJ, UK

JJ,UK. Of course it causes resentment! It's human nature. Imaging the outcry amongst women if the perceived treatment of cancer was male oriented! Currently in the UK there are no routine screening programmes for prostate cancer. The forum 'Is enough being done to fight breast cancer?' My answer is a lot more is being done for breast cancer than prostate cancer.
Roger, UK

I have been a vegetarian for nearly 20 years, I don't smoke, I am not overweight, I exercise 4 or 5 times week and have no family history of breast cancer. I was 37 when I was diagnosed. I don't believe enough is being done to inform younger women pre-menopause that they are at risk and I believe that all women should be offered screening at any age. Treatments and research are also focused in post menopausal women. I do feel strongly that not enough is being done to treat the disease in younger women who often have more aggressive cancers. Breast cancer is always shattering but reports that focus on single elements like this trivialise a complex disease. I am fed up of continual reports that this or that is linked to breast cancer. From my lifestyle and age I should have been in the lowest possible risk, but I still got it. I would never wish what I have been through on anyone, and certainly do not think that enough is being done until we have removed the threat of this condition.
Paula, UK

The NHS is not doing enough to screen women of all ages for breast cancer. If not a simple check by the nurse, not involving a mammography, even they could at least inform women how to check themselves on a regular basis. But they're not interested. Prevention is better then cure.
Sue, UK

We are all responsible for making sure we check our breasts regularly J Lee, England

I feel that more could be done, but we are all responsible for making sure we check our breasts regularly. I generally get a lump once a year, which turned out to be cists. However, if I were not diligent these lumps may have got missed. I know that as I have a family member with breast cancer I am more likely to be at risk, but its no good me worrying over every lump. Just get them checked, early diagnoses is paramount. Do NOT be fobbed off by your doctor, if you are worried insist on a mammogram.
J Lee, England

Health promotion is always a good idea, as is maintaining a healthy amount of exercise.
We should however stick with proven facts:
1) There is no scientific evidence that microwave ovens increase the risk of any kind of cancer, less that they induces some kind of 'toxic body'.
2) Breast cancer already receives a disproportionate amount of funding compared to mortality. Lung cancer is the biggest killer, yet receives 1/4 the funding. Prostate cancer is more prevalent (although it has a lower mortality rate) yet receives half the funding.
Craig Chambers, UK

My friend died of brain cancer at 36 she was fit, exercised most day (aerobics), a vegetarian, didn't drink heavily and smoked infrequently. I think the cause of cancer is mostly unknown - the only thing we can do is lead a healthy lifestyle and manage stress levels.
Catherine, UK

I think that there seems to be a great aversion towards exercise nowadays and instead the word 'activity' should be used instead. For instance gardening is an activity and can help 'destagnate' the body as well as other forms of exercise.
Amashi Ndanobu, UK

Although I agree more could and should be done, I think we should be more concerned about the lack of health promotion on male cancers.
Chris, UK

Breast cancer prevention is becoming more and more successful thanks to the removal of the taboo involved with the subject. Although any death through disease is terrible, we can at least know we are progressing with the fight against breast cancer. If only the same could be said of prostrate or testicular cancer. When it comes to healthcare the men of the UK seem to fall firmly into second place, often by their own choosing.
Matt, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (ex. UK)

Lack of exercise or diet won't kill us. Ignorance will Lorna Jones, London, UK

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998, I was 29. I'm lucky that I have, thus far, managed to beat it. However, from the time I was diagnosed right up until this point in time, I never cease to be appalled by the sheer ignorance and lack of publicity about the disease that has now overtaken lung cancer as the most common cancer in the UK. It affects 1 in 9 women. YOUNG women are affected. MEN can also be affected. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month yet at least one of the main women's publications in the UK doesn't even have an article mentioning it. There was a moonlight marathon charity walk in May 2003 in London, organised by Walk the Walk, a dedicated Breast Cancer charity. 15,000 women walked through London at midnight in their bras. Publicity? What publicity? It was covered by some small cable channel that probably has a total of 10 viewers. Lack of exercise or diet won't kill us. Ignorance will.
Lorna Jones, London, UK

Statistics like this amaze me. My first brush with cancer came when I was 18 - a friend was diagnosed with and later died from testicular cancer. Since then I have donated monthly to the research funds.
Statistics from the research funds show that breast and testicular cancers are now curable in 90% of cases - why we allow our lifestyles to buck these great trends is beyond me.
Nick, UK

To Elizabeth:
I am disappointed that the urban myth about anti-perspirants causing breast cancer are still being circulated and still frightening people. Please be assured that this really is just that, an urban myth with no basis in fact.
Kate C, England

Not enough is being done to deal with the cancer issue at all! Every year a few hundred people die on the roads, and the government spends millions on speed cameras to slow traffic down, apparently in the belief that this will save lives. Yet, many many more thousands of people are affected by cancer every year, but research on this is left to a charity to fund. There's a definite wrong here.
Paul Sealey, England

We probably are not doing enough - but then, how many other relatively common killer diseases are there, for which research also competes for funding? I can name leukaemia and MS for examples. Sooner or later the arguments get down to 'resources' and where funding should be 'targeted'. Lay people are frequently bamboozled by the medical profession and the research industry who don't wish to lose out in public or voluntary funding for 'their' pet areas of research. Much more openness is required, and treatment certainly shouldn't be the lottery it seems to be depending on where you live.
John, UK

We will never have done enough about it until the disease is eradicated. However, we are paying so much attention to breast cancer at the expense of prostate cancer. I have more reason to worry than most, as my grandfather had prostate cancer. With huge drops in breast cancer rates and no similar success story with prostate cancer, we need to stop being disproportionate with our attention.
Graeme Phillips, Germany, normally UK

As far as I am aware, a lot is being done to fight breast cancer, certainly compared to other cancers. Survival rates for breast cancer are far higher than cancers of the lung, oesophagus, colon or stomach, yet research on these cancers receives far less funding. In fact there are more charities raising money for breast cancer research than for all other cancers put together. Keep on fighting breast cancer please, but don't forget the other less high profile killers.
Stephen, UK

Moderate exercise may well reduce the risk of breast cancer, but the answer to the question "Is enough being done to fight breast cancer?", then answer is "Yes, more than enough, compared to what we do for other cancers, and in particular prostate cancer."
Mark RISON, U.K.

Given that my dear, beautiful friend Liz Townsend passed away last week from what started out as breast cancer, I'd say a resounding no. Exercise should be done in any event, whatever condition the body is in. It cleanses the system, refreshes the mind and keeps the spirit happy.
Elizabeth Coldwell-Hall, England

I don't think anything can ever be enough, but we can all try by living as healthily as possible and trying to help cancer charities. I combined the two last year by doing the Race for Life, which was so rewarding, if you ignore the fact I could barely walk for 4 days! More research is needed, to stop this dreadful, cruel disease (I include all forms of cancer in this).
Jen, UK

Whilst prevention is better than the cure, you cannot force people to exercise, it's their choice.
As for the fight against breast cancer, the first thing we need to do is reduce the waiting list. There are women who would have lived if they had been seen 6 months earlier.
Caron, England

The kind of exercise that is being mentioned is the sort of thing most people do every day so I can't see how they got these figures.
Alan, UK