Evidence-based nutrition guidelines for cancer survivors in Europe: a call for action

BACKGROUND The emotional health of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (AYAs) is compromised both during and after cancer treatment. Targeted programs designed to support AYAs’ ability to cope with stress in the years following treatment completion are lacking. Mind-body programs may ameliorate the negative psychological and emotional effects of stress and assist AYAs with managing the psychosocial challenges of early survivorship. OBJECTIVE Our randomized waitlist-control trial aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a virtual group program (Bounce Back) to promote stress management and resiliency among post-treatment AYAs. METHODS Bounce Back is a stress management and resiliency program delivered via videoconference by a trained mental health clinician. Sessions were adapted from an evidence-based mind-body program (SMART-3RP) grounded in relaxation response elicitation, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, and positive psychology. Seventy-two AYAs (diagnosed with cancer between ages 14-29 and had completed cancer treatment within the last five years) were randomly assigned to the Bounce Back program or waitlist control group and completed assessments at baseline, three months, and six months post-baseline. The primary aim of the study is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the Bounce Back program. Descriptive statistics, including means, frequencies, and ranges supplemented by qualitative exit interview feedback will be used to characterize the sample and to summarize feasibility and acceptability. The exploratory aims are to evaluate the preliminary effects of the program on stress coping and psychosocial outcome measures (i.e., anxiety, depression) collected across the three timepoints. RESULTS This study was funded by the National Cancer Institute in July, 2017. Study procedures were approved by the Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center IRB in October, 2018 (Protocol 18-428). The randomized trial was conducted from July 2019- March of 2021. Quantitative data collection is complete and qualitative exit interview data collection is ongoing. Results are expected to be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at local, national, and/or international meetings in the coming years. CONCLUSIONS Few evidence-based programs exist that tackle the key transitional issues faced by AYA cancer survivors. Future analyses will help us determine the feasibility and acceptability of the Bounce Back program and its impact on AYA stress coping and psychological well-being. CLINICALTRIAL Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03768336

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Cultural Adaptation of Evidence-Based Lifestyle Interventions for African American Men With Prostate Cancer: A Dyadic Approach

American Journal of Men s Health ◽

10.1177/1557988320945449 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 155798832094544

Author(s):

Dalnim Cho ◽

Karen Basen-Engquist ◽

Chiara Acquati ◽

Curtis Pettaway ◽

Hilary Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

African American ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Lifestyle Intervention ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

African American Men ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Lifestyle Interventions ◽

Intervention Adaptation

Although a number of lifestyle interventions have been developed for cancer survivors, the extent to which they are effective for African American men with cancer is unclear. Given that African American men have the highest prostate cancer burden and the lack of proven interventions, this study developed a culturally-tailored lifestyle intervention for African American men with prostate cancer and their partners that aimed to improve healthy lifestyle behaviors (physical activity and healthy eating) and quality of life. The aim of the present study is to provide a detailed overview of the model-based process of intervention adaptation. Based on the IM Adapt approach (Highfield et al., 2015) and Typology of Adaptation (Davidson et al., 2013), the present study adapted existing, evidence-based interventions to address African American prostate cancer survivors’ and their partners’ potential unmet needs including anxiety/uncertainty about cancer progression, communication between partners, cultural sensitivity, and concordance/discordance of motivation and behaviors between partners. The intervention adaptation was a comprehensive and fluid process. To the best knowledge of the author, this is the first couple-based lifestyle intervention specifically developed for African American men with prostate cancer. The present study will be highly informative to future investigators by providing flexible and detailed information regarding lifestyle intervention adaptation for racial/ethnic minority men with prostate cancer and their partners.

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Evidence-based physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors: Current guidelines, knowledge gaps and future research directions

Cancer Treatment Reviews ◽

10.1016/j.ctrv.2013.06.007 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 327-340 ◽

Cited By ~ 139

Author(s):

L.M. Buffart ◽

D.A. Galvão ◽

J. Brug ◽

M.J.M. Chinapaw ◽

R.U. Newton

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Future Research ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Knowledge Gaps ◽

Research Directions ◽

Physical Activity Guidelines ◽

Future Research Directions ◽

Current Guidelines

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Physical Exercise to Enhance Quality of Life Among Adult Cancer Survivors: An Evidence-Based Review

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.2056330 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Deya Mohammad Rababah ◽

Nijmeh Mohammad AL-Atiyyat

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Exercise ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Adult Cancer Survivors

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Translating research into practice: outcomes from the Healthy Living after Cancer partnership project

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-020-07454-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth G. Eakin ◽

Marina M. Reeves ◽

Ana D. Goode ◽

Elisabeth A. H. Winkler ◽

Janette L. Vardy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Lifestyle Intervention ◽

Trial Registration ◽

Fear Of Cancer Recurrence ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Healthy Living ◽

Cancer Council ◽

After Cancer

Abstract Background Healthy Living after Cancer (HLaC) was a national dissemination and implementation study of an evidence-based lifestyle intervention for cancer survivors. The program was imbedded into existing telephone cancer information and support services delivered by Australian state-based Cancer Councils (CC). We report here the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of the program. Methods In this phase IV study (single-group, pre-post design) participants - survivors of any type of cancer, following treatment with curative intent - received up to 12 nurse/allied health professional-led telephone health coaching calls over 6 months. Intervention delivery was grounded in motivational interviewing, with emphasis on evidence-based behaviour change strategies. Using the RE-AIM evaluation framework, primary outcomes were reach, indicators of program adoption, implementation, costs and maintenance. Secondary (effectiveness) outcomes were participant-reported anthropometric, behavioural and psychosocial variables including: weight; physical activity; dietary intake; quality-of-life; treatment side-effects; distress; and fear of cancer recurrence and participant satisfaction. Changes were evaluated using linear mixed models, including terms for timepoint (0/6 months), strata (Cancer Council), and timepoint x strata. Results Four of 5 CCs approached participated in the study. In total, 1183 cancer survivors were referred (mostly via calls to the Cancer Council telephone information service). Of these, 90.4% were eligible and 88.7% (n = 791) of those eligible consented to participate. Retention rate was 63.4%. Participants were mostly female (88%), aged 57 years and were overweight (BMI = 28.8 ± 6.5 kg/m2). Improvements in all participant-reported outcomes (standardised effect sizes of 0.1 to 0.6) were observed (p < 0.001). The program delivery costs were on average AU$427 (US$296) per referred cancer survivor. Conclusions This telephone-delivered lifestyle intervention, which was feasibly implemented by Cancer Councils, led to meaningful and statistically significant improvements in cancer survivors’ health and quality-of-life at a relatively low cost. Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) - ACTRN12615000882527 (registered on 24/08/2015).

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