Does low BMI INCREASE the risk of Breast Cancer before Menopause?
 

http://densebreast-info.org/patients-faq2.aspx

I was researching about dense breasts and I found that according to this website, a low BMI increases breast cancer risk before menopause and a high BMI increases breast cancer risk after menopause.

This resonates with me and what I have been observing. Thin does not mean healthy. Just thought I would pass this along.

Re: Does low BMI INCREASE the risk of Breast Cancer before Menopause?
 

That fits well with me as had low bmi before menopause and was dx at age forty six, I was far too thin at the time and agree, not healthy.

Re: Does low BMI INCREASE the risk of Breast Cancer before Menopause?
 

I have been dismissed as being healthy from doctors even though I had health problems, like cancer, all because I was thin, ate "healthy" food and (over)excersized. I found this website helpful for me.

http://180degreehealth.com/

Matt Stone - Finally! He resonates with me. He got me out of my carbphobia, intermittent fasting, drinking way too much water, overexercise and not to be scared of eating more calories. Now I avoid major sources of PUFA's. I am thankful I have access to lots of different food.

Re: Does low BMI INCREASE the risk of Breast Cancer before Menopause?
 

It might have something to do with the density of the breast (see abstract below). I've also read in the past about tall, thin women have higher risks because of being tall (thus higher level of hormones). After menopause, women tend to gain weight which leads to higher hormone secretion from other body tissue ... (?)

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2015 Aug 27. pii: cebp.0330.2015. [Epub ahead of print]
The effect of change in body mass index on volumetric measures of mammographic density.
Hart V1, Reeves KW2, Sturgeon SR3, Reich NG4, Seivert LL4, Kerlikowske K5, Ma L6, Shepherd J7, Tice JA8, Pasha Mahmoudzadeh A8, Malkov S9, Sprague BL10.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Understanding how changes in body mass index (BMI) relate to changes in mammographic density is necessary to evaluate adjustment for BMI gain/loss in studies of change in density and breast cancer risk. Increase in BMI has been associated with a decrease in percent density, but the effect on change in absolute dense area or volume is unclear.
METHODS:
We examined the association between change in BMI and change in volumetric breast density among 24,556 women in the San Francisco Mammography Registry from 2007-2013. Height and weight were self-reported at the time of mammography. Breast density was assessed using single x-ray absorptiometry measurements. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between BMI and dense volume (DV), non-dense volume (NDV) and percent dense volume (PDV) were assessed using multivariable linear regression models, adjusted for demographics, risk factors, and reproductive history.
RESULTS:
In cross-sectional analysis, BMI was positively associated with DV (β=2.95 cm3, 95% CI 2.69, 3.21) and inversely associated with PDV (β=-2.03%, 95% CI -2.09, -1.98). In contrast, increasing BMI was longitudinally associated with a decrease in both DV (β=-1.01 cm3, 95% CI -1.59, -0.42) and PDV (β=-1.17%, 95% CI -1.31, -1.04). These findings were consistent for both pre- and postmenopausal women.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings support an inverse association between change in BMI and change in PDV. The association between increasing BMI and decreasing DV requires confirmation.
IMPACT:
Longitudinal studies of PDV and breast cancer risk, or those using PDV as an indicator of breast cancer risk, should evaluate adjustment for change in BMI.

Re: Does low BMI INCREASE the risk of Breast Cancer before Menopause?
 

I have read that, of all things, being anorexic in your teens decreases one's risk of developing breast cancer as you age. I think it has to do with theories around caloric restriction and aging.

I have always been a normal BMI for my age but I became very thin and depleted while doing extended breast feeding. I do feel as though, in spite of my body's ability to breastfeed, that it was detrimental ultimately to my health.

I have come across a lot of information about electrolyte imbalances and the adrenals. Once your body is thrown out of whack by overexertion, stress, poor diet, chronic dehydration, or prolonged illness it actually starts to go into a downward spiral and our bodies start to lose more magnesium and zinc and our copper levels elevate. This is very pro-inflammatory and pro-carcinogenic. I only know this about my situation as I sought care with a naturopathic oncologist prior to starting chemo. My medical oncologist wasn't interested in understanding why my disease started or why I was so depleted; my blood labs looked fine for chemo but I'm lucky that chemo didn't kill me. Thank goodness my naturopathic oncologist helped me to heal my body of its depletion.

Re: Does low BMI INCREASE the risk of Breast Cancer before Menopause?
 

I was told to not gain weight and that I was "healthy" despite having "unique" side effects from chemo. I had a BMI of 19.26. They defined "healthy" as not having cancer, but I have/had symptoms that I know now that are a result of my overexercising, not eating enough calories, intermittent fasting, drinking way too much water, plus I have a history of disordered eating from way back into childhood that I told my oncologist about. They did not care one bit. I'm so glad I have the internet and have you to connect with.