The Cancer Research UK research of more than 200,000 women from nine European countries found doing household chores offered a better defense against breast cancer than sports or a physical job.

Doctors knew that physical exercise can reduce the risk of breast cancer but were uncertain about how much and what types of activities were necessary, the BBC said. Also, much of the research focused on the link between exercise and breast cancer in post-menopausal women.

The study looked at pre- and post-menopausal women and included work, leisure activities and housework. Of the activities, only housework significantly reduced the risk of both pre- and post-menopausal women contracting breast cancer, researchers said. Housework cut breast cancer risk by 30 percent in pre-menopausal women and by 20 in post-menopausal women.

"This study suggests that being physically active may also help reduce the risk and that something as simple and cheap as doing the housework can help," said Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK.

The research was in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.