Integrating lifestyle medicine into cancer care: A new paradigm.

Abstract

179 Background: Amid rising global cancer rates and obesity-related cancer risks, oncology must blend traditional cancer treatments with evidence-based lifestyle medicine (LM) to enhance patient outcomes. LM—evidence-based interventions in nutrition, exercise, sleep, avoiding substances, and social connection —emerges as a critical tool in the care spectrum. ASCO and ACS guidelines incorporating lifestyle interventions are limited, and existing ones have notable implementation gaps. This study advocates for integration of LM into cancer care. Such interventions, supported by growing research, offer significant promise in reducing cancer treatment side effects and improving outcomes, highlighting an urgent need for their incorporation into oncological protocols. Methods: The Department of Preventive Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) launched an LM program at the Oncology Institute. Oncologists refer to LM physicians who assess patients using an LM-validated questionnaire. Cardiometabolic risk factors: body composition, waist circumference, lipid profile, hemoglobin A1c, high-sensitivity CRP, liver function, and liver elastography are tested at baseline and 3 months. Patients receive personalized LM treatment by certified physicians, dieticians, physiatrists, and psychologists, aimed at reducing treatment side effects and enhancing cancer outcomes while improving cardiometabolic health. Follow-ups at 6 weeks and 3 months post-intervention ensure progress tracking and reassessment. Results: Initiated in January 2021, it began as a pilot program for breast cancer patients and has since expanded to all cancer patients. To date, it enrolled 425 patients, evidencing sustainability and acceptance within the patient community. Referral rates from oncologists have shown a steady increase, reflecting the program's growing credibility and utility. Patient satisfaction levels are reported to be high. Preliminary outcomes indicate improvements in both physical and psychological health metrics, suggestive of the program's comprehensive impact. Conclusions: The pioneering oncology LM program at CCAD established a transformative model that seamlessly integrates LM into traditional oncology care and acts as a bridge to survivorship. By ensuring sustained access to lifestyle interventions from the point of diagnosis through post-treatment, the program aligns with the latest research and ASCO/ACS guidelines, pioneering a new standard in cancer treatment. It can effectively address cardiometabolic risks, including obesity, and reduce treatment-related adverse outcomes. This program demonstrates the feasibility and a replicable global model, one that merges evidence-based lifestyle practices with standard oncological care to create a unified approach that could be adopted by healthcare systems worldwide, marking a significant step in the evolution of patient-centered cancer care.