What Are the Benefits of Early Integration of Lifestyle Medicine?
How can early integration of lifestyle medicine benefit cancer patients? Expert Dr. Amy Comander from Massachusetts General Hospital discusses the importance of lifestyle medicine and the pillars of lifestyle medicine as part of oncology care.
Related Resources:
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Survivorship Care: Screening and Lifestyle Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Secondary Cancers |
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Transcript:
Lisa Hatfield:
The future of lifestyle medicine and cancer care holds immense potential for innovation. How do we harness the benefits early on? I’m connecting with a Harvard researcher to understand more in this Patient Empowerment Network RESTORE program.
Dr. Comander, from your perspective, what are the key benefits of incorporating lifestyle medicine early in the cancer treatment continuum rather than solely focusing on survivorship?
Dr. Amy Comander:
When we think about individuals with cancer, who already have a very serious diagnosis, we want to help empower those individuals to improve their health to the best they can to help reduce the risk of other chronic diseases, reduce the risk of cancer recurrence potentially, and just feel better. And that’s why I think lifestyle medicine is so important and that these tools should be accessible to all individuals after a diagnosis of cancer.
And again, just focusing on learning about the importance of physical activity and nutrition and stress management and adequate sleep and social connection and avoiding risky substances. Again, it sounds overwhelming, and I usually tell my patients, just pick one thing that you want to start working on to help improve your health. And I will tell you, it’s amazing the progress that my patients have made. And I would say, like I think of a patient I saw the other day, she would tell you, “There’s no way in the world I ever wanted to get breast cancer.” It was definitely like the last thing on her list that she wanted.
But she did acknowledge that since her diagnosis, it was almost like a wake-up call, or a teachable moment that this is the time that I am now going to take charge of my health and be the healthiest version of me that I can. And I think that was really inspiring. And so I love hearing those kinds of comments from my patients once they have really taken charge and trying to improve their health behaviors in this way.
Lisa Hatfield:
Thank you. Dr. Comander, looking ahead, what innovations or advancements in lifestyle medicine do you anticipate will have the greatest impact on cancer care and survivorship in the coming years?
Dr. Amy Comander:
Well, there are so many exciting research studies coming out that are really further demonstrating the benefits of these lifestyle interventions for patients with a diagnosis of cancer. For example, so much research coming out about, learning about the mechanisms of the gut microbiome, or why exercise is important, or the benefits of achieving a healthy body weight, which I know is very complicated by the way.
So I think the more data we have to really demonstrate the importance of these tools for lifestyle medicine will really result in more widespread adoption of cancer centers around the United States, and around the world, really emphasizing that these tools need to be a key component of oncology care. And that’s certainly something I’m trying to do and I’m so grateful to partner with you to help spread this important message so we know that patients can learn about these tools to help take charge of their health as they’re going through cancer treatment.
Lisa Hatfield:
Well, you heard it here from Dr. Amy Comander. Thanks for joining this RESTORE Program. I’m your host, Lisa Hatfield.
