New research suggests that following the American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines for nutrition and physical activity may significantly lower the risk of death among cancer survivors, particularly those with obesity-related cancers. The findings, published on April 3 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, highlight the importance of lifestyle choices in improving survival outcomes for cancer survivors.
Led by Ying Wang, Ph.D., of the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, the study tracked nonsmoking cancer survivors from the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort, who were diagnosed with obesity-related cancers between 1992 and 2002. The participants, followed until 2020, were assessed on their adherence to ACS guidelines, which cover key health factors such as body mass index (BMI), physical activity, diet, and alcohol consumption. Adherence was scored on a scale from 0 to 8.
The study found that, among the 3,742 participants, 2,430 deaths occurred during a median follow-up period of 15.6 years. Survivors who scored 6 to 8 on the ACS guidelines had a significantly lower risk of mortality across various causes, including all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and cancer-specific deaths. Specifically, their hazard ratios for these types of mortality were 0.76, 0.67, and 0.79, respectively, compared to survivors who scored between 0 and 3.
Notably, higher BMI and physical activity scores were linked to a reduced risk of all-cause mortality. Survivors who maintained a high ACS guideline score (≥5) consistently had lower all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality rates compared to those with lower scores (<5), both before and after their cancer diagnosis. Additionally, survivors who improved their lifestyle adherence from low to high also showed lower all-cause mortality.
Dr. Wang emphasized the significance of these findings, stating, “Many survivors want to know what lifestyle changes they can make to improve their chances of living longer. These findings underscore how making the right lifestyle choices truly affects cancer survival.”
Related topics:
Probiotics Linked to Reduced Negative Mood in Healthy Adults, Study Shows
Dietary Patterns Associated with Healthy Aging: A Study Overview
Smaller, Hatching Embryos More Likely to Be Genetically Healthy, Study Finds
