Engaging in health behaviors to lower risk for breast cancer recurrence

While post-treatment breast cancer survivors face up to twice the cancer risk of the general population, modifiable health behaviors may somewhat reduce this risk. We sought to better understand health behaviors that early stage breast cancer survivors engage in to reduce recurrence risk. Data came...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2013-01, Vol.8 (1), p.e53607-e53607
Main Authors: O'Neill, Suzanne C, DeFrank, Jessica T, Vegella, Patti, Richman, Alice R, Henry, Leonard R, Carey, Lisa A, Brewer, Noel T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Body mass
Body mass index
Body size
Breast cancer
Breast Neoplasms - epidemiology
Breast Neoplasms - psychology
Cancer
Cancer genetics
Cancer prevention
Cancer recurrence
Cancer research
Cancer therapies
Cancer treatment
Demography
Diet
Exercise
Female
Fruits
Fruits (Food)
Genetic testing
Health aspects
Health Behavior
Health care
Health Planning Guidelines
Health risk assessment
Health risks
Humans
Intervention
Medical screening
Medicine
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - epidemiology
Obesity
Physical activity
Physical fitness
Public health
Quality of life
Risk
Risk Factors
Risk reduction
Risk taking
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Vegetables
Weight control
Womens health
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Summary:While post-treatment breast cancer survivors face up to twice the cancer risk of the general population, modifiable health behaviors may somewhat reduce this risk. We sought to better understand health behaviors that early stage breast cancer survivors engage in to reduce recurrence risk. Data came from a cross-sectional multi-site survey of 186 early-stage breast cancer survivors who received genomic testing for breast cancer recurrence risk (Oncotype DX) during their clinical care. Study outcomes were meeting health behavior recommendations (daily fruit and vegetable intake, regular physical activity, and having a healthy body mass index (BMI)). Approximately three-quarters of survivors we surveyed believed the 3 behaviors might reduce their cancer risk but many did not engage in these behaviors for this purpose: 62% for BMI, 36% for fruit and vegetable consumption, and 37% for physical activity. Survivors with higher recurrence risk, as indicated by their genomic test results, were no more likely to meet any of the three health behavior recommendations. Adherence to health behavior recommendations was higher for women who were white, college-educated, and had higher incomes. Many nonadherent breast cancer survivors wish to use these behavioral strategies to reduce their risk for recurrence, suggesting an important opportunity for intervention. Improving BMI, which has the largest association with cancer risk, is an especially promising target.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0053607