Nearly 40% of American adults have obesity, creating unexpected challenges in breast cancer care that extend far beyond initial risk. Recent research reveals that obesity significantly impacts every aspect of the breast cancer journey—from treatment effectiveness to survival outcomes—with obese women facing a 35-40% increased risk of cancer recurrence and death. However, groundbreaking 2024 research from the longest-running study of its kind demonstrates that bariatric surgery can dramatically reduce breast cancer risk by up to 52% in women with elevated insulin levels, potentially eliminating the residual cancer risk associated with obesity entirely and restoring risk levels equivalent to women who were never obese.
The Complex Relationship Between Obesity and Breast Cancer: How Weight Affects Treatment Outcomes and the Role of Bariatric Surgery
