title: Do cancer survivors develop healthier lifestyle behaviors than the cancer-free population in the PLCO study?
abstract: Current studies report mixed results in health status and health behaviors after a diagnosis of cancer. The aim of our study is to investigate potential differences in lifestyle factors among cancer survivors and cancer-free individuals in a prospective cohort study conducted in the United States.
  
  
  
  Using data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Trial, 10,133 cancer survivors were identified and compared to 81,992 participants without cancer to evaluate differences in body mass index (BMI), smoking, NSAID use, and physical activity.
  
  
  
  Cancer survivors, compared to the cancer-free, were significantly less likely to engage in physical activity (odds ratio (OR) = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.77-0.88). Compared to those who were obese at baseline, cancer survivors were more likely to be at normal BMI at follow-up compared to the cancer-free (OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.42-2.54). Cancer survivors were less likely to report regular aspirin use as compared to the cancer-free population (OR = 0.86, 95 % CI = 0.82-0.92). Of the current smokers, cancer survivors were more likely to be former smokers at follow-up compared to the cancer-free (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.30-1.74).
  
  
  
  Upon stratification by baseline health markers, cancer survivors practice healthier lifestyle habits such as smoking cessation and maintenance of a healthy weight. However, cancer survivors are less likely to be physically active as compared to cancer-free individuals, regardless of baseline practices.
  
  
  
  For cancer survivors who reported poor health status and behaviors at baseline, a cancer diagnosis may encourage the practice of healthier lifestyle behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.|Division of Public Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, 375 Chipeta Way, Suite A, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA.
authors.forename: Makenzie L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Saundra S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Buys
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, 375 Chipeta Way, Suite A, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Gren
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, 375 Chipeta Way, Suite A, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA.
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Simonsen
authors.affiliation: Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Anne C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kirchhoff
authors.affiliation: Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. mia.hashibe@utah.edu.|Division of Public Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, 375 Chipeta Way, Suite A, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA. mia.hashibe@utah.edu.
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashibe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D000070497:Healthy Lifestyle; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States
keywords: Aspirin; BMI; NSAID; Physical activity; Tobacco