Four Healthy Habits Ward Off Cancer Professor David Demko, PhD AgeVenture Syndicated News Service 08-01-05 "Elders are set in their ways" "What you don't know can hurt you." "Men will not accept directions." QUESTION: Why have these nasty statements become mainstays of American culture? ANSWER: Because the statements are true. As a case in point, medical research confirms that cancer survivors who adopt healthy lifestyle habits increase their chances of living a longer life. So, what cancer survivor would fail to follow such valuable advice? If your answer is "older", "less educated", "men" ... you're RIGHT. You may be thinking ... "well, they've already survived cancer, so why are lifestyle changes necessary?" The changes are necessary because surviving one type of cancer still leaves you at risk to other types of cancer. Cancer survivors are a vulnerable population, at increased risk for second cancers, osteoporosis, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. A recent issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology reports on positive lifestyle changes made by survivors of various types of cancer. What follows are the four major types of changes made by cancer survivors, and the range at which these types of changes were made depending on the type of cancer. 1. follow a healthier diet (30-60%) 2. quit smoking (46-96%) 3. abstain from alcohol (47-59%) 4. regular (30 minutes, 5 days a week) physical activity As I mentioned earlier, not all cancer survivors initiated positive lifestyle changes. Researchers found that cancer survivors who are 65-plus, less educated, men were less likely to initiate or maintain healthy lifestyle changes. The study also found that physicians are the most powerful influence for promoting behavior change to their patients. Unfortunately, only 20% of oncologists provide such guidance because of time constraints and other concerns. Researcher, Patricia A. Ganz, MD, pointed to the transition time at the end of cancer treatment as a "teachable moment" for oncologists. "Cancer survivors are looking for important ways to prevent a recurrence of their cancer. Oncologists have an opportunity to define what care of the cancer survivor should include." More than 10 million cancer survivors live in the United States today, and an estimated 64% of those diagnosed with cancer can expect to be alive after five years. The Journal of Clinical Oncology is the semi-monthly peer-reviewed journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the world's leading professional society representing physicians who treat people with cancer. See related articles in AgeVenture archives. AgeVenture Headline News AgeVenture Lifestyle Features AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com BACK TO TOP