According to a recent Reuters survey, cancer specialists rarely advise their patients on how to improve their health by making lifestyle changes. When doctors from a Midwestern health system were surveyed, the results showed that oncologists were much less likely to offer their patients strategies for a healthier lifestyle, compared to primary care physicians.
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Researchers surveyed 30 primary care physicians, 30 oncologists and 31 physicians in other specialties, such as urologists, dermatologists and gynecologists. Survey results showed that 90% of primary care physicians said they recommend lifestyle changes to at least some of their patients who are cancer survivors, while only 26.7% of oncologists and 9.7% of specialists were able to say the same.
The study authors also conducted interviews with 12 of the oncologists surveyed, who noted concerns about why they chose not to offer lifestyle options to their patients. One of their main concerns was fear that their patients wouldn’t be able to make lifestyle changes while continuing to take their medications properly. Another common reason not to offer lifestyle change options was that cancer control was always the primary concern. Others were unconvinced that healthy lifestyle changes would have any impact on cancer.
Study coauthor Bonnie Spring stressed the extremely important role that lifestyle factors, such as smoking, weight and physical activity, can play on cancer recurrence, as well as other health conditions. "They also impact the likelihood you will develop heart disease," she said. "Very likely, the drugs you were given to address the cancer may have had a toxic effect on your heart. This is one of the things you can do to help control the risk."
Research has shown that making wiser lifestyle choices can indeed help prevent cancer. Key dietary guidelines for cancer prevention include avoiding sugar, limiting protein and increasing healthy fat, getting plenty of natural vitamin A and sufficient amounts of iodine, nourishing your gut, avoiding GMOs, avoiding cigarettes and excess alcohol consumption and adding cancer-fighting whole foods, herbs and spices to your diet.
Other lifestyle strategies that may play a role in fighting cancer include optimizing your vitamin D levels, maintaining a healthy body weight, avoiding EMFs, getting enough sleep and employing effective stress management tools.