Research published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings noted a surprising finding: only about 39 percent of women who have undergone treatment for breast cancer subsequently changed their dietary and lifestyle habits to eating healthier foods and getting more exercise. Yet a majority of these women believed that diet and exercise could change the course of their cancer and prevent recurrence.

Bernardine Pinto, Ph.D. of Miriam Hospital and Brown University Medical School in Providence, Rhode Island and colleagues surveyed 86 women who were previously treated for breast cancer. They found that 54 percent of the women were overweight or obese, and 55 percent reported that 30 percent or more of their dietary intake came from fat.

While only a minority of the women eventually changed to a healthier diet and lifestyle after their diagnosis and treatment, nearly three quarters believed they could change the course of their breast cancer with exercise, and 85 percent believed they could change the course of their cancer through improving their diet.

The overweight women reported low self-discipline for exercise and eating, suggesting that healthcare interventions should focus on increasing their motivation for behavior change.

"Future work is needed in designing and implementing interventions that will promote adoption and maintenance of healthy dietary and exercise behaviors among breast cancer patients," said Pinto. "It is likely that these positive lifestyle changes may help these women to live longer, healthier lives and enhance their quality of life."

Another article in the same issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings called on physicians to be much more proactive in recommending physical activity to their patients.

"The health gain obtained by completely sedentary patients who undertake moderate physical activity is equal to or greater than the gains experienced by individuals who are already physically active and increase their level of activity," said Frank W. Booth, Ph.D., of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Missouri, and an author of the study.

"Thus, physical activity counseling should become an integral component of routine practice in the primary care setting. It is difficult to imagine a more effective approach to improving our nation's health."

SOURCE:
Mayo Clinic Proceedings, February 2002; 77:122-129, 165-173