Abstract
People who have been diagnosed with cancer tend to adopt healthier lifestyles. This study analyzes the prevalence of smoking, eating fruits and vegetables, exercise and the use of alcoholic beverages among individuals who reported to have been diagnosed with cancer in the PNS (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde or National Health Survey). The prevalence and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated for consuming fruits and vegetables, sedentary lifestyle (no exercise), use of alcoholic beverages, being overweight and tobacco use. The associa-tion between having received a diagnosis of cancer and the risk and protection factors was analyzed using a Poisson regression, adjusted by sociodemographic variables and other chronic comorbidities. The analyses were stratified by time since the diagnosis and the type of cancer related to the factors analyzed. The types of cancer most often reported were breast and cervix in women, and prostate and stomach in men. Among those who had cancer diagnoses, there was a higher consumption of fruits and vegetables, higher proportion of ex-smokers, however, increased use of alcohol. There was no difference in the frequency of exercise or incidence of being overweight between the two groups. Measures to promote health and prevent chronic diseases should be implemented in the follow-up of people who have had cancer, in an effort to ensure integrated healthcare.
Highlights
The diminished lethality of some types of cancer has allowed a growing number of individuals to survive a diagnosis of cancer.In high-income countries, one observes that for the less lethal cancers, such as breast, prostate and colorectal, mortality has dropped significantly, despite the fact that for some types the incidence has remained flat or even increased
This study analyzes the prevalence of smoking, eating fruits and vegetables, exercise and the use of alcoholic beverages among individuals who reported to have been diagnosed with cancer in the PNS (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde or National Health Survey)
This study analyzed data from 59,179 individuals who had not been diagnosed with cancer and 841 who had (1,023 less 182 with a diagnosis of non-melanoma skin cancer and excluded from the analysis)
Summary
In high-income countries, one observes that for the less lethal cancers, such as breast, prostate and colorectal, mortality has dropped significantly, despite the fact that for some types the incidence has remained flat or even increased. The situation in Brazil as a whole is unclear, this trend is emerging among those living in state capitals in the South and Southeast with diagnoses of cancer of the breast or prostate[2]. A diagnosis of cancer can motivate people to adopt healthier lifestyles. Recommendations made to people who have survived cancer treatment focus primarily on weight control, regular exercise and healthy eating habits[3,4]. There is evidence that cancer survivors who are no longer undergoing active treatment benefit from the disease prevention recommendations geared towards the general population[5], reducing their risk of death[6]
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