cancer survivors prevent recurrence of the disease and live longer, yet
cancer survivors have rates of obesity and physical inactivity similar to
those of the general population, according to new research.
The study, published in the June 1 issue of Cancer, found that
less than one-quarter of cancer survivors were regularly physically
active, and more than 18 percent were obese.
"We thought this might be a time when people would be particularly
motivated to exercise and control weight. But, a cancer diagnosis and
treatment didn't seem to stimulate behavior change," said the study's lead
author, Kerry Courneya, a professor and Canada Research Chair at the
University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.
What's troubling is that maintaining a healthy weight and getting
regular physical exercise may be even more crucial for cancer survivors
than it is for the general public. Some studies have suggested that
physical activity and losing weight may help prevent cancer recurrence and
improve survival odds.
Additionally, some research suggests that exercise can help reduce
fatigue, improve physical functioning and improve quality of life for some
cancer survivors.
For the study, Courneya and his colleagues gathered data from the
Canadian Community Health Survey. This survey contains information based
on interviews of more than 114,000 people in Canada. Details of cancer
history, weight, height and physical activity were all supplied by the
respondents.
General population statistics for Canada find that 37 percent of people
are overweight, and 22 percent are obese, according to background
information in the study.
Fewer than 22 percent of cancer survivors reported being physically
active. The lowest rates of physical activity were found among colorectal
cancer survivors, breast cancer survivors and female survivors of
melanoma.
Thirty-four percent of cancer survivors were overweight, and almost one
in five was obese.
Obese breast cancer survivors were only about half as likely to be
physically active as obese women who hadn't had cancer, a finding that's
particularly worrisome, because poor outcomes in breast cancer have been
associated with obesity and the often accompanying sedentary lifestyle.
"We really didn't know which way the research would go. Cancer
survivors may be more motivated at the time of their diagnosis to make
changes, but others point out that it's a very stressful time that can
take a toll and lead to the opposite effect," Courneya said.
Kevin Stein, director of Quality of Life Research at the American
Cancer Society, said, "This is an important finding to underscore the fact
that cancer survivors need to pay attention to their health. You've
dodged a bullet for the time being, but cancer survivors are actually at
an increased risk for a number of health conditions, including cancer
recurrence.
"There is a teachable moment when someone is diagnosed. It's the
perfect opportunity to say, 'We all need to eat healthy and exercise, but
it's even more important for you as a cancer survivor,' " he said.
Courneya added: "This is something they can do for themselves to help
beat cancer and improve quality of life. The cancer community needs to get
more involved in the promotion of healthy lifestyles in cancer patients.
Maybe a program something like cardiac rehabilitation. The cancer
community's been slower to realize the importance of lifestyle changes
after cancer diagnosis."
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