Many Cancer Survivors Ignore Lifestyle Changes

Cancer survivors who make healthy lifestyle changes and alter their diets to eat more fruits and vegetables, stay physically active and avoid tobacco have a higher quality of life than those who do not do these things.

The bad news, according to a study published in May 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, is that many cancer survivors are not eating right and aren't exercising enough.

"We all know that living a healthy lifestyle, eating well, being physically active and not smoking reduces the risk of physical problems and improves overall physical health," said Kevin Stein, director of Quality of Life Research at the American Cancer Society's Behavioral Research Center and lead author of the Clinical Oncology study. "Here we have additional evidence that it not only reduces disease burden but also improves emotional health and quality of life and, moreover, the effect appears to be cumulative. The more you comply, the better your quality of life."

Unfortunately, the message doesn't seem to be getting through enough so that people can really grasp the importance of what they do in their lives in terms of how it affects what happens to them. This includes behaviors engaged in both before and after a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

After dodging a bullet, having a second chance to live a healthy lifestyle, reduce the risk of a second cancer and improve their quality of life, it seems old bad habits die hard.