Lifestyle Changes Improve Health and Well-Being of Cancer Survivors

The Facts

The National Cancer Institute estimates that there were over 10.8 million cancer survivors living in the United States in 2004 (the most recent data from the American Cancer Society "Facts and Figures 2008"). That number had more than tripled since the 1970’s when there were only 3 million Americans who had survived cancer. This increase is fueled by better treatment strategies, early detection and prevention programs (such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and vaccines) and successful smoking cessation programs.

Changes in Behavior

In the first population-based study to investigate changes in health-related behaviors up to two years following cancer diagnosis, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center conducted a survey among more than 350 cancer patients in Washington State. The survey found that more than 65 percent of adult cancer patients made one or more health-related lifestyle changes in response to their cancer diagnosis.

Patients report that they made major changes in diet, physical activity or the use of dietary supplements to cope with cancer or reduce the risk of cancer returning or spreading. Almost all of the patients overwhelmingly believed that these changes -- whether a healthier diet or increased exercise or supplement use -- improved their health and well-being.

Diet, Supplements, and Exercise

50 percent of those surveyed started taking new supplements (most commonly, multivitamins or vitamin E), 40 percent made dietary changes (which usually meant eating more fruits and vegetables), and 20 percent started a new physical activity regime (most commonly, aerobic exercise). Two-thirds of the patients reported making at least one such behavior change in the previous year, a quarter of those surveyed reported making two changes and nearly 10 percent made improvements in all three areas.

Consistent with Cancer Prevention Guidelines

Most of these changes were healthful and consistent with national cancer-prevention guidelines, such as eating more fruits and vegetables, increasing whole grains and consuming less fat. Other changes, such as supplementation with vitamin C, garlic or echinacea, were also reported. However the use of dietary supplementation is still controversial. Emerging evidence emphasizes the consumption of whole foods instead of supplementing with isolated dietary compounds to maximize health benefits while preventing the risk of disease and minimizing toxicity. It has been proposed that the disease fighting and anticancer potential of whole foods may be due to a synergistic activity among different phytochemicals contained in fruits and vegetables.

Take Action

Start some form of exercise regime – whether it’s walking three times per week for 15 minutes or engaging in aerobic activity most days of the week. The current recommendation is to exercise 30 minutes per day “most days of the week."

Eat more fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals and use healthy dietary fats. Read labels and choose foods that are high in fiber and low in sugar. When choosing breads and cereals, make sure that the first ingredient reads, "whole grain." Avoid packaged, refined foods that contain high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils. Finally, choose a daily multivitamin to be certain that you meet your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals above and beyond the foods that you consume.