Abstract
PurposeTo investigate CRC survivors’ beliefs on nutrition and cancer and the association with nutritional information provision by (kind and number) of health professionals and to inquire about foods that CRC survivors believed either had a positive or negative influence on their cancer.MethodsA total of 326 CRC survivors of an ongoing prospective cohort study filled out questionnaires 1 month after surgery on whether they had received nutritional information from health professionals. Also, their beliefs that nutrition influences (1) feelings of well-being, (2) complaints after treatment, (3) recovery and (4) cancer recurrence were investigated. Prevalence ratios were calculated (using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis) to study associations between information provision and the four beliefs adjusted for age, gender and cancer stage.ResultsSixty-two percent of respondents received information about nutrition from one or more health professionals. Most respondents who received information strongly believe nutrition influences feelings of well-being (59%) and recovery after cancer (62%). Compared with those who did not receive information, respondents who received information from three professionals showed the strongest beliefs on the influence of nutrition on complaints after treatment (PR 3.4; 95% CI 1.6–7.4), recovery after treatment (PR 2.0; 95% CI 1.2–3.3) and recurrence (PR 2.8; 95% CI 1.3–6.2).ConclusionNutritional information provision by health professionals positively influences the beliefs of CRC survivors on the influence of nutrition on cancer outcomes: stronger beliefs occur when respondents received information from three health professionals.
Highlights
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide [1]
Prospective cohort studies in cancer survivors have shown that higher adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) guidelines for cancer prevention [10] is associated with lower mortality in CRC survivors [11, 12] and better health-related quality of life [13, 14]
This study found that CRC survivors’ adherence to the WCRF/AICR guidelines for cancer prevention was low, with 9% adhering to the recommendation for fruit and vegetable intake, and 12% adhering to more than six out of eight recommendations [20]
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide [1]. Due to the ageing of the population, implementation of screening programs and ongoing advancements in treatment, incidence and survival rates of CRC have increased over the past years [2], resulting in an increase in CRC survivors [3]. Prospective cohort studies in cancer survivors have shown that higher adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) guidelines for cancer prevention [10] is associated with lower mortality in CRC survivors [11, 12] and better health-related quality of life [13, 14]. A healthy diet low in fat, meat and refined grains, combined with a high level of physical activity, has been shown to be associated with lower recurrence and mortality rates and a decreased risk of Support Care Cancer (2020) 28:1255–1263 comorbid conditions in cancer survivors in general [11, 13, 15] and in CRC survivors [16, 17]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
