Breast Cancer
Survivors Change Lifestyle After Diagnosis
Behind the Cancer Headlines®
Breast cancer survivors' beliefs about what may have caused
their cancer are connected to whether they make healthy lifestyle changes after
a cancer diagnosis. This is the finding of a research study appearing in the journal
Psycho-Oncology by researchers at The
Miriam Hospital and
"We found that breast cancer survivors who believed that an unhealthy behavior that contributed to their cancer – such as consuming an unhealthy diet – were more likely to say that they had changed that behavior since their diagnosis," says lead author Carolyn Rabin, PhD, a psychologist at The Miriam Hospital's Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine.
"Likewise, breast cancer survivors who believed that a healthy behavior could ward off a cancer recurrence – such as consuming a healthy diet – were more likely to say that they had adopted that behavior since their diagnosis."
Due to advances in detection and treatment, there are now more than 10 million Americans who are cancer survivors, according to the American Cancer Society. However, researchers have not yet determined why some cancer survivors are motivated by a cancer diagnosis to make healthy lifestyle changes, while others are not. This question prompted the study.
The researchers cite evidence from past studies indicating that many cancer survivors are not leading healthy lifestyles. For example, 50 percent of breast cancer survivors consume fewer than the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day; 23 percent consume more than 30 percent of their calories from fat; and 28 to 43 percent lead sedentary lifestyles. In addition, more than 50 percent of cancer survivors who smoked prior to diagnosis continue to smoke.
"Adopting a healthy lifestyle is an important strategy for cancer survivors since, in addition to a cancer recurrence, they may be at increased risk for the developing other medical problems, such as cardiac or pulmonary disease. The goal of this study was to develop a better understanding of why a cancer diagnosis appears to serve as an impetus for some survivors to adopt healthy behaviors, while others do not," says Rabin.
Researchers assessed breast cancer survivors within three months of the survivor completing all surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation treatment for cancer and a second time three months later. Study participants completed measures assessing beliefs about the cause of their cancer; beliefs about behavioral strategies that may reduce the chance of cancer recurrence; diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption; and any changes in health practices since their cancer diagnosis.
Findings indicated that survivors who believed that unhealthy diet, insufficient exercise or alcohol consumption contributed to their cancer were more likely to modify the relevant behavior. The most robust relationship between beliefs and behavior change was found for changes in diet.
"This study suggests that cancer survivors develop their own understanding of the causes of their cancer and the behavior changes that may prevent recurrence, and then take an active problem-solving approach to help reduce risk of a future cancer," says co-author Bernardine Pinto, PhD, a psychologist at The Miriam Hospital's Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine.
Given the role of health behavior changes in reducing medical risks, these findings have important implications for maintaining the health of cancer survivors. The authors note, however, that even though survivors' beliefs about what caused their cancer may prompt healthy lifestyle changes, these beliefs may not be accurate.
"This research highlights the important role that
survivors' beliefs about their disease have in their life post-cancer
diagnosis. Ultimately, we hope that cancer survivors will take a holistic
approach to maintaining their health so that they do not dismiss an opportunity
to make a healthy lifestyle change. Behavior modification may not impact their
chance of a cancer recurrence, but can help reduce other serious medical
risks," says Rabin.
SOURCE:
Psycho-Oncology,
August 2006