Will eating less fat lower the risk of cancer coming back or improve survival?
Several studies have looked at the link between fat intake and survival after breast cancer. Results have been mixed. Early results of one large study of early stage breast cancer survivors suggested that a low-fat diet may lower the chance of the cancer coming back. This effect was strongest in women whose cancers were estrogen receptor negative.
Although it’s not clear that total fat intake affects cancer outcomes, diets very high in fat tend to be high in calories, too. This can lead to obesity (being very overweight), which is linked to a higher risk of many types of cancer, a higher risk of certain cancers coming back after treatment, and worse survival for many types of cancer.