| The Columbus Dispatch
Lifestyle behaviors like diet and exercise can reduce the risk of cancer, while helping those who have been diagnosed improve their quality of life.
That wide-ranging impact is driving a growing field of research into lifestyle factors and their potential role in cancer care and prevention.
“We develop, evaluate and test interventions to help empower people to live healthier,” said Roberto Benzo, PhD, a health promotion and behavioral scientist and the director of the Lifestyle Lab at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). “We focus on empowering people to eat and exercise better and improve management of their stress, and to help them find the right solutions at the right time.”
Exercise, nutrition and stress management are essential for everyone and can be vital components of comprehensive care for cancer patients during and after treatment.
“Being active and eating well can help you better tolerate your treatment and manage your symptoms,” Benzo said. “Even after a cancer diagnosis, it’s not too late.”
Click to learn more about cancer care and research at the OSUCCC – James.
Tips for living a healthier lifestyle
Of course, changing lifestyle behaviors is easier said than done, so Benzo and his team have developed supportive tools, including mobile apps that integrate data from wearable devices, to help patients set realistic goals and see their progress in real time.
“The foundation of behavior change starts with awareness,” Benzo explained. “By tracking behaviors like physical activity or sleep — things that are hard to accurately recall — we help people see how they’re actually doing.
“That awareness creates opportunities to align their values with their actions, set meaningful goals and take concrete steps toward them. Technology can play a key role in supporting that process.”
While each patient’s unique circumstances require personalized care plans, Benzo shares some recommendations that can benefit everyone interested in adding healthy behaviors to their daily routines:
- Consistency: “Consistency doesn’t mean you have to do a super-hard workout every day. It means doing something active every day.”
- Acceptance and awareness: “Often, we’re not happy with where we are, and that can push us to try to get to where we want to go as fast as we can. But, that can prevent consistency because we can’t maintain that level.”
- Social support: “It’s important to have emotional and informational support, and someone to help you do things such as exercise. It doesn’t have to be the same person for all three.”
As research in this area continues to expand, its impact grows — providing not only scientific insights, but also emotional and practical support to those navigating cancer.
“I’ve learned so much from cancer patients and survivors about acceptance, compassion and resilience,” Benzo said. “We’re hoping to get this information out to others to help them feel less alone, and to normalize some of the chaos in their worlds.”
Click here to learn more about support for cancer patients and caregivers at the OSUCCC – James.
Lifestyle research to improve cancer care and overall health
Approximately 30%-50% of all cancer cases may be preventable through healthy behaviors. At the OSUCCC – James Lifestyle Lab, Benzo and his team conduct research to improve public health through physical activity, sleep, diet and weight management.
Lifestyle Lab experts partner with patients on a variety of studies designed to help people engage in healthy behaviors within their means. The team conducts comprehensive research that extends beyond cancer care and prevention, including:
- Studies focused on the impacts of behaviors and risk factors on health outcomes, including those related to cancer prevention and control.
- Observational studies that help researchers better understand the role of lifestyle behaviors on mental, emotional and physical health.
- Experimental studies that develop and evaluate innovative health interventions to empower individuals to adopt health behaviors.
Lifestyle studies are important components of cancer control, a growing field of oncology care and research focused on reducing the incidence, mortality and morbidity of cancer.
Cancer control experts — including those with the OSUCCC – James’ Cancer Control (CC) Program — develop and test behavioral interventions to promote prevention and early detection, while also conducting research at the molecular and genetic levels. Their work is key to improving the understanding of cancer development, along with treatment and survivorship, among large populations.
Click here to learn more about oncology innovation at the OSUCCC – James.
Members of the editorial and news staff of USA TODAY Network were not involved in the creation of this content.
