The American
Cancer Society urges cancer survivors to exercise more and improve their diets
to help prevent the disease from coming back. The society
recommends the following:
Achieve and Maintain a Healthy Weight
Extra weight
is linked to increased risk of the cancer coming back and decreased survival
rates among breast, prostate, and colorectal (colon) cancer survivors, and
possibly others. Being overweight is a
risk factor for these 3 cancers (and others), and many people with cancer are
overweight at the time of diagnosis. For these survivors, setting lifelong
goals to achieve and maintain a healthy weight are among the most important
health-related goals that can be set.
Healthy ways to control weight
include:
- Limiting
high-calorie foods
- Drinking
fewer beverages high in fat and/or added sugar
- Eating more
low-calorie foods like vegetables and fruits
- Adding more
physical activity throughout the day
Be Active on a Regular Basis
Many studies
have shown that being physically active has a tremendous impact on quality of
life of cancer survivors. Now, studies have demonstrated that physical activity
after cancer diagnosis is also associated with a lower risk of the cancer coming back and improved
overall survival among multiple cancer survivor groups, including breast,
colon, prostate, and ovarian cancer.
Among breast
cancer survivors, a recent analysis showed that getting exercise after
diagnosis was associated with a 34% lower risk of breast cancer deaths, a 41%
lower risk of dying from all causes, and a 24% lower risk of breast cancer
recurrence. Among colon cancer survivors, studies suggest exercise cuts deaths
from colon cancer and all causes, and cuts the risk of the cancer coming back
by up to 50%.
Our
recommendations, and those of the American College of Sports Medicine,
encourage survivors to aim to exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, and
to include strength training exercises at least 2 days per week. For survivors who have not been previously
active, gradually working up to these recommendations is the way to go.
Fill your plate with vegetables,
fruits, and whole grains
Recent
reviews suggest that food choices may affect risk for recurrence and overall
survival among survivors. The majority of these studies have focused on breast
cancer, but more evidence has also emerged for colon and prostate cancer
survivors.
Similar to
what we've seen for cancer prevention, it looks like it's the overall dietary
pattern that is important for cancer survivorship -it's not one food, or even
one food group, that makes the difference.
It's likely the combination of many different nutrients coming from many
different foods --working together -- that offers the best protection.
Studies
suggest that the best protection comes from a diet that:
- Is high in
fruits, vegetables and, whole grains
- Includes more
fish and poultry instead of red and processed meats
- Includes low
fat instead of full-fat dairy products
- Includes nuts
and olive oil instead of less healthy sources of fat, such as butter or trans
fats found in many processed snack foods
The bottom line
Do we have
all the answers related to nutrition, physical activity, and cancer
survivorship? No. But do we have enough information and evidence to recommend
that anyone who's been diagnosed with cancer should strive to be at a healthy
weight, live a physically active lifestyle, and add more fruits, vegetables and
whole grains to their meals and snacks?
Absolutely. It's an important
message that I'm sharing with everyone I know who has been diagnosed with any
kind of cancer.
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