|
E-mail this page to a friend!
Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
Breast Cancer Survivors Likely to Change Lifestyle
if Convinced it Caused Cancer
Healthy lifestyle is important strategy
for high risk cancer survivors
August 10, 2006 – Past studies have shown that many
among the millions of cancer survivors are not leading healthy
lifestyles - half consume less than the recommended fruits
and vegetables, half the smokers continue to smoke, many still get too
many calories from fat and up to 43 percent lead sedentary lifestyles.
Why some breast cancer survivors make lifestyle changes after their
diagnosis and others do not is based on beliefs about what may have
caused their cancer, a study finds.
| |
Related Stories |
|
| |
Older Women Breast Cancer Survivors Not Continuing
Mammograms
April 24, 2006 - A new study finds use of annual
mammography among older female breast cancer survivors, who are at
increased risk of a recurrence or a new malignancy in the other breast,
dropped off after a few years. During the five year study period, only
one in three women in this high-risk group had received regular annual
mammograms. Read
more...
Postmenopausal Women Less Concerned about Breast
Cancer than Younger Women
 Actress, breast cancer survivor Diahann Carroll
joins effort to kelp women understand breast health as they age
July
25, 2006 –
Read
more...
Estrogen plus Testosterone May Increase Breast
Cancer in Postmenopausal Women
But, alternative, complementary therapies don't
relieve menopause
July 25, 2006 –
Read more...
Tamoxifen Only Benefits Women at Very High Risk of
Breast Cancer
Very small
likelihood it'll reduce mortality at lower end of high-risk range
July 24, 2006 -
Read more...
Raloxifene Again Found to Deter Breast Cancer in
Older Women, plus Vertebral Fractures
But study finds increased problems of
blood clots and fatal strokes
July 17, 2006 –
Read more...
Women Smokers have Higher Risk of Lung Cancer than
Men, but Lower Death Rate
Still, lung cancer kills more women than breast and
colon cancer combined
July 11, 2006 - Read more...
Weight Gain May Increase Risk of Breast Cancer in
Older Women
Problem increases if weight gain
is after menopause
July 11, 2006 -
Read more...
Tamoxifen and Raloxifene Both Guard Against Invasive
Breast Cancer, But…
Raloxifene the rising star says editorial in JAMA
June 5, 2006 -
Read more...
Older Women with Early Breast Cancer have Better
Survival with Aromasin
June 3, 2006 -
Read more...
Success of Raloxifene to Prevent Breast Cancer is
Encouraging for Senior Women
April 19, 2006 –
Read more...
Read more
on
Health & Medicine |
|
"We found that breast cancer survivors who believed
that an unhealthy behavior - such as consuming an unhealthy diet,
contributed to their cancer - 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- such as consuming a healthy diet - could ward
off a cancer recurrence - 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 by researchers at The Miriam Hospital and
Brown Medical School.
The researchers cite evidence from past studies
indicating that many cancer survivors are not leading healthy
lifestyles. For example, 50% of breast cancer survivors consume fewer
than the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, 23%
consume more than 30% of their calories from fat, and 28 to 43% lead
sedentary lifestyles. In addition, more than 50% 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, as a result of their cancer
treatment. 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.
The findings of this research appear in the August
2006 issue of Psycho-Oncology.
The Miriam Hospital, established in 1926 in
Providence, RI, is a not-for-profit hospital affiliated with Brown
Medical School. Nationally recognized as a top hospital in
cardiovascular care, The Miriam Hospital (www.miriamhospital.org)
offers particular expertise in cardiac catheterization, angioplasty and
women's cardiac care. One of 20 designated Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)
sites, The Miriam is a leader in the treatment, research and prevention
of HIV/AIDS, attracting $17 million of the world's HIV/AIDS research
dollars. The Miriam Hospital has been awarded Magnet Recognition for
Excellence in Nursing Services three times and is committed to
excellence in patient care, research and medical education. The Miriam
is a founding member of the Lifespan health system.
Click to More Senior News on the
Front Page
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
