Up-to-date, science-driven guidelines on nutrition and exercise after cancer were published in the April 12th issue of Ca - A Journal for Clinicians, a publication of The American Cancer Society. Although addressed to healthcare professionals, the material is accessible to patients (free, online) and includes a section written specifically for lay readers.
[From the introduction]
New scientific evidence has emerged since 2006 on the relationship between nutrition, physical activity, and issues of quality of life, comorbid conditions, cancer recurrence, the development of second primary cancers, and overall survival. Although this evidence is incomplete, reasonable conclusions and recommendations can be made on several issues that can guide choices about body weight, foods, physical activity, and dietary supplement use.
The last sentence highlights the notion that even when science hasn't closed all the gaps in knowledge, it still can guide physicians' recommendations to help you become a Healthy Survivor -- namely, a survivor who gets good care and lives as fully as possible.
The introductory material also echoes a central theme of Healthy Survivorship by stating, "It is important that health care providers, cancer survivors, and caregivers consider the nutritional and physical activity issues discussed in this report within the context of the individual survivor's overall medical and health situation."
This report can help each survivor forge his or her unique path to Healthy Survivorship.
Since many of the recommendations may help people who have never had cancer, too, I'll share some of the findings in my next few posts.
Thank you very much for this resource. I will spread the word.
Posted by: Jan Baird Hasak | May 14, 2012 at 07:59 AM
Great, Jan.
Posted by: Wendy S. Harpham, MD | May 14, 2012 at 08:44 AM