Alexandria, VA--An analysis of more than 100 studies of cancer survivors shows that many survivors initiate diet, exercise, and other beneficial lifestyle changes following a cancer diagnosis, but that those who are male, older, and less educated are less likely to adopt such changes. The term "cancer survivor" refers to a person who has been diagnosed with cancer.

The review, which will be published online July 25 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO), says that a cancer diagnosis often prompts immediate changes in health behavior, including significant modifications in diet and physical activity.

Using the MEDLINE and PubMed databases, lead author Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, PhD, RD, LDN, of Duke University Medical Center, and colleagues from the National Cancer Institute and Brown University identified and reviewed more than 100 studies of cancer survivors published since 1996.

Researchers found that many survivors adopt healthier behaviors, such as following a healthier diet (30-60% of survivors), quitting smoking (46-96% of smokers with tobacco-related cancers, such as lung or head and neck), abstaining from alcohol (47-59% of those with head and neck cancers, which are closely linked to alcohol use), and regular physical activity (with up to 70% of survivors reporting 30 minutes of exercise a day, at least 5 days a week). Many of these changes should be beneficial because cancer survivors are a vulnerable population, at increased risk for second cancers, osteoporosis, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

However, researchers noted that not all cancer patients adopted healthier behaviors, with only 25-42% of survivors consuming adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables, and roughly 70% of breast and prostate cancer survivors remaining overweight or obese. The analysis also found conflicting data on physical activity, as well as smoking status, noting that although survivors with tobacco- or alcohol-related cancers were
'"/>

Contact: Carrie Housman
housmanc@asco.org
703-519-1423
American Society of Clinical Oncology
25-Jul-2005

Page: 1 2 3
Related medicine news :

1. Conventional prognostic factors fail to explain better prostate cancer survival in most Asian men
2. Survival differences by race most apparent in advanced stages of breast cancer
3. Stomach cancer rate set to fall further 25 percent over next decade
4. MRI finds breast cancer before it becomes dangerous
5. Investigators uncover intriguing clues to why persistent acid reflux sometimes turns into cancer
6. New cause of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells discovered at Lombardi
7. Pathway links inflammation, angiogenesis and breast cancer
8. Using MRI for diagnosis could help prevent breast cancer progression
9. Electric fields have potential as a cancer treatment
10. Shining light on pancreatic cancer
11. Method shows promise for early detection of pancreatic cancer