title: Engaging in health behaviors to lower risk for breast cancer recurrence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While post-treatment breast cancer survivors face up to twice the cancer risk of the general population, modifiable health behaviors may somewhat reduce this risk. We sought to better understand health behaviors that early stage breast cancer survivors engage in to reduce recurrence risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from a cross-sectional multi-site survey of 186 early-stage breast cancer survivors who received genomic testing for breast cancer recurrence risk (Oncotype DX) during their clinical care. Study outcomes were meeting health behavior recommendations (daily fruit and vegetable intake, regular physical activity, and having a healthy body mass index (BMI)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately three-quarters of survivors we surveyed believed the 3 behaviors might reduce their cancer risk but many did not engage in these behaviors for this purpose: 62% for BMI, 36% for fruit and vegetable consumption, and 37% for physical activity. Survivors with higher recurrence risk, as indicated by their genomic test results, were no more likely to meet any of the three health behavior recommendations. Adherence to health behavior recommendations was higher for women who were white, college-educated, and had higher incomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many nonadherent breast cancer survivors wish to use these behavioral strategies to reduce their risk for recurrence, suggesting an important opportunity for intervention. Improving BMI, which has the largest association with cancer risk, is an especially promising target.
authors: Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America. sco4@georgetown.edu
authors: Suzanne C
authors: SC
authors: O'Neill
authors: Jessica T
authors: JT
authors: DeFrank
authors: Patti
authors: P
authors: Vegella
authors: Alice R
authors: AR
authors: Richman
authors: Leonard R
authors: LR
authors: Henry
authors: Lisa A
authors: LA
authors: Carey
authors: Noel T
authors: NT
authors: Brewer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors