Abstract
Following breast cancer diagnosis, women often attempt to modify their lifestyles to improve their health and prevent recurrence. These behavioral changes typically involve diet and physical activity modification. The aim of this study was to determine association between healthy eating habits and physical activity with quality of life among Iranian breast cancer survivors. A total of 100 Iranian women, aged between 32 to 61 years were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Eating practices were evaluated by a validated questionnaire modified from the Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) study. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). A standardized questionnaire by the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life and its breast cancer module (EORTC QLQ-C30/+BR-23) were applied to determine quality of life. Approximately 29% of the cancer survivors were categorized as having healthy eating practices, 34% had moderate eating practices and 37% had poor eating practices based on nutrition guidelines. The study found positive changes in the decreased intake of fast foods (90%), red meat (70%) and increased intake of fruits (85%) and vegetables (78%). Generally, breast cancer survivors with healthy eating practices had better global quality of life, social, emotional, cognitive and role functions. Result showed that only 12 women (12%) met the criteria for regular vigorous exercise, 22% had regular moderate-intensity exercise while the majority (65%) had low-intensity physical activity. Breast cancer survivors with higher level of physical activity had better emotional and cognitive functions. Healthy eating practices and physical activity can improve quality of life of cancer survivors. Health care professionals should promote good dietary habits and physical activity to improve survivors' health and quality of life.
Highlights
The number of cancer survivors worldwide is estimated to increase three times from 25 million in 2008 to 75 million in 2030 globally (Ferlay et al, 2010)
29% of the cancer survivors were categorized as having healthy eating practices, 34% had moderate eating practices and 37% had poor eating practices based on nutrition guidelines
Since it is well documented that cancer patients face physical and emotional challenges after undergoing treatment (Lopez et al, 2005), they are willing to modify their lifestyle in order to increase well-being as well as prevent recurrence (Monninkhof et al, 2007); they are enthusiastic to get more information related to food choices, dietary supplement, complementary nutritional therapies and physical activity modification to improve their quality of life (Pinto et al, 2002; Brown et al, 2003)
Summary
The number of cancer survivors worldwide is estimated to increase three times from 25 million in 2008 to 75 million in 2030 globally (Ferlay et al, 2010). In the last decade breast cancer patients had the highest survival record (27%) globally (Parkin and Fernandez, 2006; Jemal et al, 2009). Since it is well documented that cancer patients face physical and emotional challenges after undergoing treatment (Lopez et al, 2005), they are willing to modify their lifestyle in order to increase well-being as well as prevent recurrence (Monninkhof et al, 2007); they are enthusiastic to get more information related to food choices, dietary supplement, complementary nutritional therapies and physical activity modification to improve their quality of life (Pinto et al, 2002; Brown et al, 2003). The need for informed lifestyle choices for cancer survivors becomes important as they search for the best strategies to improve their response to treatment, recovery, reduce risk of recurrence and improve survivorship (Fink et al, 2006). Several studies (Salminen et al, 2000; Maunsell et al, 2002; Thomson et al, 2002; Shaharudin et al, 2012) have found the most common dietary changes were decreased consumption of dietary fat and increased intake of fruits and vegetables among breast cancer survivors
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