Cancer survivors not meeting guidelines for healthy living
Posted by Kate Murphy on May 5th, 2008
Very few cancer survivors are meeting all three of the American Cancer Society recommendations for a healthy lifestyle. But those who do report a higher overall quality of life after their cancer treatment.
The ACS recommends that cancer survivors
- Get 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 60 minutes of strenuous exercise during each week.
- Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day (5-A-Day),
- Not smoke.
In a study supported by the American Cancer Society, over 9,000 people who had been treated for one of six major cancers completed questionnaires about their physical exercise, diet, and smoking. In addition, they answered questions about their health-related quality of life that looked at physical functioning, pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, and mental health. Overall less than 5 percent reported following all three recommendations.
Among colorectal cancer survivors:
- 35 percent met physical activity recommendations
- 16 percent ate 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily
- Fewer than 10 percent smoked.
One third of the colorectal cancer survivors had lived for more than 10 years past diagnosis, another third were five years beyond. Their average age was 70, nearly all had had surgery, and 60 percent had stage III cancer.
For all survivors, health-related quality of life scores were higher when healthy behaviors were followed.
Christopher Blanchard and his colleagues concluded,
Few cancer survivors are meeting the PA or 5-A-Day recommendations, and even fewer are meeting all three lifestyle recommendations. The association between the current lifestyle recommendations and health-related quality of life. in cancer survivors appears to be cumulative. Interventions to increase physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption and reduce smoking are warranted and may have additive effects on the health-related quality of life of cancer survivors.
SOURCE: Blanchard et al, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Volume 26, Number 13, May 1, 2208.
Deborah Kanter
May 8, 2008 at 10:37pm
This study provides a needed message, for me, anyway. I will avoid using the “editorial we”; however, I continually feel that despite having no car and walking everywhere, practicing Medicinal Qi Gong and maintaing awareness, that there can never be enough exercise. This study confirms my opinion. Just have to try harder…
We accentuate the physological, the nutritional, the emotional, and the proactive approach to dealing with the multifactorial aspects of cancer. Maybe we should also deal with the physical, the activity based aspect of coping with cancer and perhaps finding healing.
I am going to do those sit-ups and weight bearing exercises with appreciation and verve. It is an individual choice.
Erica Gough
May 10, 2008 at 11:27am
I am a 27 year old woman who was diagnosed with Stage IV disease in June of 2007. I have been receiving active treatment for almost one year, and had a major surgery that included a liver resection. Since then, I have changed my diet, eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. I also exercise on a regular basis. I feel great! Fatigue from chemo is almost non-existent anymore, and honestly, despite my diagnosis, I am in the best shape of my life. I urge colon cancer survivors to stay active and eat right. It truely makes all of the difference in the world!