Physical activity and obesity among cancer survivors

Cancer survivorship is getting more attention lately, largely due to increased media attention owing to high profile cancer survivors, like Lance Armstrong. Notably, The Lance Armstrong Foundation has been one of the major funders of cancer survivorship research. (Did you see his speech at the 2006 ASCO Annual Meeting? It is only 17 minutes, and I encourage you to catch it here if you missed it).

So, given this framework of survivorship, I was disheartened to see this recent study in Cancer. This investigation looked at the physical activity and obesity levels of cancer survivors in Canada. They found that the levels of activity in this group were no higher than those without cancer. Rates of obesity were no different, either. This seems like an uphill battle that I fight nearly daily. I am asked by patients and families "What can I do to help fight this cancer?" I usually don't have much to say, but particularly in breast and colorectal cancer, I feel confident in saying that (1) regular exercise and (2) a healthy well-rounded diet will likely help. (It is important to note that there is usually a refrain about not smoking or being around smokers as well). I have wondered how many patients actually take this advice seriously. Now I feel my heart sinking as I realize my clinical impression is probably universally true — not many heed the advice at all.